+ Historicized Version of Myself +

What were you like in High School?

I was similar to the way I am now. I probably dressed a lot more unconventional than I do now. I would be okay with continuing to be more expressive with my outward appearance, except there's the problem of needing to be a professional. Spikes, fishnets, combat boots, and tanktops just don't scream, "I'm a trustworthy adult - you can trust me to educate your children". So yes, I did grow up in the last eight years.

I was still always big on standing up for those who can't stand up for themselves. I always put a stop to bullying when I noticed it just because I never believed that was okay. Even if someone is different than yourself you never have the right to make others feel badly for it. Whether or not they are unconventional. I tried not to judge and accepted many types of people.

I could probably be described as a ghost in my high school. I didn't get into trouble, I didn't speak up a lot in my classes (not because I didn't know the answers, but because I felt weird in my own skin when speaking in front of peers), I clique-hopped, I was always quick to defend topics that people misunderstood, and I was always overachieving.

I never fit into one category. I had friends that transcended the cliques of high school and to be totally honest I didn't notice cliques really. I mean I'm sure that they were there I just didn't notice them. I was always the first person to explain topics that people misunderstood. At one point a student pointed out wiccans were devil worshippers so I gave a brief explanation of what being a wiccan really meant. In the same breath I also explained why the stereotype another girl placed on Catholics were misjudged. I probably confused a lot of students as a high schooler. I just had many areas of interest and did a lot of research on my own to get more well-rounded.

I cared a little bit more about what my peers thought about me in high school than I ever did in college, but even still I didn't care a whole lot. If I cared I would never have been able to talk about religions or stand up for others. I was eccentric and working to discover myself. I knew what I wanted from my future even then, though. I never put my education in jeopardy because I knew even then I needed to do well if I planned on going to college and actually doing something with my life one day. I don't think I ever really believed the day would come when I'd look back and barely remember those years. Everything seemed so permanent and important back then.

I didn't get along with the family well back then. I was tired of being controlled and always being yelled at for what seemed like nothing. It wasn't until leaving and being away at college that I began to appreciate the family. I can get along fairly well with everyone these days. However, I still hate not having my own place. At least when I had my own apartment everything had a logical place and I wasn't overcrowded in my room.