Yesterday I saw a wonderful post on Facebook that literally described my life. It was a meme of how people think you look 12 years old when you are actually 20. This post spoke to my soul as it was exactly what happened to me about a month ago. I turned 20 years old this June, but still, I get people who think I am 12. While soliciting donations this summer for my college’s welcome bag program, I came across a few people who thought I was younger than I was.
One particular place I went to, the employee asked what school I went to. I told her the school’s name and she says, “Oh, I thought you were 12! So, you are 18 then, right?” Well, I give her credit for at least assuming I was 18 on her second guess. I give my quick little laugh and tell her that no, I am not 12 or 18, but 20 years old. To which, she was still surprised by my age. While soliciting at another business, I was also told by an employee that he thought I was 15/16 and coming in to ask for a job. Well, at least he did not think I was 12. I usually get people guessing that my age is between 16 to 18 years old. So, to hear someone think I was 12 was so saddening but I always laugh it off. What can you do!
Another moment of “OMG YOU’RE 20?!” was while I was at the 7 Eleven with my dad. It was early in the morning and I am assuming I had a grumpy morning face that day because the cashier said to me, “Oh, don’t look too sad about going to school. What school do you go to?” My immediate thought was ‘How does she know I am going back to college?’ It was at this moment that I knew she thought I was probably 16. Or so I thought. I respond to her that I am in college. She had the usual surprised face and says, “Oh sorry, I thought you were in middle school!” Yes, that is right folks. This college student looks like a middle schooler.
What I hate the most, but what other young-faced people like me enjoy, is when people say, “At least you will look younger when you are older.” This comment personally annoys me because I hear it all the time, I do not care about looking younger when I am older, and it does not benefit me at this very moment. I will have to wait a whole 30 + years before it actually becomes significant to me. The worst part of it all is when I am 50 years old and people think I am 35 to 45 years old, I will get the same comments. “Wow, you are 50? I thought you were 40!”
Looking this young is a blessing and a curse. I guess the only thing to do is continue to enjoy the surprised faces when people discover my actual age ;).
