Get something simple and unobjectionable, and learn to fight. Nike Blazers are often on sale. Recently the Kyrie Flytraps have been clearanced out, the Precision 6’s are often under $60. If you can be patient and are a common size, cruising ebay or mercari for really lightly used shoes can be good IF you know how to look for wear. I just scored my kid some gorgeous Lebron 18’s for $24 on ebay, but you have to wade through a lot of crap to find the good stuff.

But yeah, learn how to fight. Everyone is going to tell you how you shouldn’t care or worry about this or that. And they’re right but, do whatever you can to make it less easy to pick on you by blending in appearance wise, then when they chose to do it anyway, you have to make them regret it. Don’t be a psycho or become a bully yourself, you just have to make yourself a more difficult target than someone else, and they’ll move on.