I was naturally quiet and shy when I was in elementary school but I did have friends and enjoyed playing on the playground.  I knew that the other kids didn't have to go to special doctors like me, but like I said earlier, I wasn't made fun of while I was in elementary school.  I don't even remember anyone asking me about why my face looks different.

But when I got into junior high, things changed.  Being teased certainly didn't help me become more outgoing.  It made me more introverted and I didn't have as many friends.  I started to keep more to myself out of fear of being teased.  I did have a couple friends, (Hi Pauline if your reading this!)  I did find myself who was also made fun of.  I did often eat lunch by myself in the cafeteria, although there was a time when I did sit with some other girls

High school was (in a way) better.   I was made fun of, but I don't remember it being as serious.  Then again maybe that's because I had gotten used to it by then...it wasn'y as much of a surprise. 

If you are cleft, I probably don't have to tell you how difficult it is to find someone to date