Mannerisms for me are an obsession, a fascination of true beauty. They provide me with a constant need to discover their origin and the story behind them. When a person shows a certain mannerism, it's almost like they are giving you a tiny keyhole glimpse of their life; a part of their self that many people would not have a clue about. Something so simple as a nervous look down, or a type of hand movement, gives me the food for thought where my imaginative and excited mind bounces stories and ideas such as, “Why did they do that? Why the nervousness?”

Although I am a psychology major, I have always had this captivation with people and the way they are. I am not sure why, but I could stare at someone for ages, just trying to work them out, watching their every move and every mannerism they unconsciously convey. A little strange, I know! But for me it’s a journey of discovery of human beings, an unearthing of the way we work when put into situations in which our mind changes — when thrown into a pit of uncomfortableness.

Watching people in the school library is one of the most fascinating and, I guess, funniest things I do. When you stare at someone as they are walking into the building, there are many people you can instantly tell what type of mood they are in. Although, the ones that are hard to read are the most intriguing. I often just look at them and try to find something about their aura that gives off an indication, or inkling into the type of person they are.

“People watching” is the best way to find these types of people. However, I have noticed two types of situations that often arise:

• Is when the person has not seen you looking at them and they just carrying on their business like nobody is watching or noticed them. Many people argue that this is the ‘natural’ state of being one’s self. For example, seeing the way they walk, the way their body position is, their stance and how they hold themselves. Types of mannerisms I see are ones such as hand movements, whether they itch the ear, their nose; you can see so many things that they are completely unaware of when just being them.
• However, number two is the most exciting and enthralling type for me. This is when they have seen you looking at them; this is when I believe you see someone in their true ‘natural’ state, an insight into their personality; this is where you discover certain mannerisms, and with these mannerisms you find out who the person really is. It could be the most confident guy in school, but when he clocks someone looking at him, a whole different ball game is played inside his head.

People almost panic, because of their lack of preparation of what to do. For example, a look away or a nervous smile allow a person, such as myself, to create a story behind the everyday provado that all of us in this society use, and gain a tiny insight into why they might hold themselves as confident? Or why they suddenly did show me nervous joust when I looked at them?

Summer camps for children is also a most amazing environment to be in when looking for many different types of mannerisms. Another very closely linked category with mannerisms is behavior, especially in children. Many people really do underestimate the learning ability of children and how quickly they pick up and adapt.

You can see a huge range of different behaviors and mannerisms, and the way they develop over the six or seven weeks of camp. For example, when you first meet some kids at the beginning of the summer, many were so nervous to meet a new counselor: the lack of trust, the lack of recognition, the unknown of what this counselor is like?

Studying these types of children and their development, as they gained my trust and began to feel safe around me, was incredible. Going from a scared child who hides behind another counselors back, and ignoring any simple questions you ask them, such as “What’s your name?” to later having the confidence to come straight up to you in the morning and saying “hello,” with completely altered mannerisms and a contrary personality.

But during the period of discovery — the purgatory between not having the trust and gaining it — is one that enthuses me because this is where you pick up on all of these motions, gestures and particular body language. Seeing what they are like when they are with the whole group sitting down, or when they are with someone who is older than them, or even if they are the ones who “lead the pack.” This is when you can discover how to act around the child: are they vulnerable? Do they seem nervous and quaint? Or are they a little too arrogant?

These types of questions are answered by watching them when they are in motion. It will allow you to decide and become familiar in the best way to approach that person when you are next going to try that “Hello” or “What’s your name?”

One incredible but anxiety triggering fact about mannerisms is that you do not know what yours is. You don’t when you are passing secret information about your psyche. This makes it fascinating, something you can’t control! You may be displaying good, bad, annoying, and cute mannerisms and just not know. Well, let’s hope mine are cute ones!