Final answer:
School was hard for Nikki Hayden due to bullying and the lack of adequate support from teachers, exemplified by experiences in gym class and difficulty in receiving modified work in social studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
From Nikki Hayden's perspective, school was made hard for her in a couple of significant ways. Firstly, she faced bullying in the 1st grade, which made her feel different and affected her self-esteem. She recalls being picked on by another student, a challenge that many students face but that can particularly impact those who already feel out of place. Standing up for herself was a powerful moment for Nikki, but the experience of bullying unquestionably had a negative impact on her school life.
Another challenge Nikki faced was the lack of adequate support from her teachers. An incident in gym class highlights this, where she felt embarrassed to jump rope in front of her peers due to her circumstances, and the teacher seemingly lacked sensitivity to her situation. Later, in Junior High, she experienced reluctance from a teacher to modify her social studies work to accommodate her needs, leading her to switch to a special education class despite her desire to stay with her friends. Such instances of unaccommodating educational environments can make school a challenge for students with different needs or abilities.