"When are you starting high school?" The cashier asked me only a month before my high school graduation. I debated who would be more embarrassed if I told her I was actually 18 years old and on my way to college in only four months. But instead of making the situation even more humiliating, I just said “Already in high school.” And walked away.
Being only five feet tall had never been highlighted as a difference until I went pant shopping and figured out that the "short" cut was too long for me. And now that I am in college, my height issue became even more apparent as I struggled to climb into my bed from putting risers below my bed so I could have more storage. And I wouldn't complain if people did not point it out all the time with their constant comments like:
-- "Oh my god, you are the perfect arm rest height!"
- "Do you need help reaching that?" **laughing**
- "I would let you borrow my shirt, but it would probably be a dress on you."
- "Aww, I think my youngest brother is taller than you, and he's only in like 5th grade, how funny is that?"
-"Are your parents short?"
- "you will always look so young! You are gonna love that when you are older."
- "Is it twice as hard to walk fast because your legs are half the size?"
-"you can sit in the middle seat because you don't need that much leg room."
-"Can you even reach the peddles in your car?"
-"Do you have trouble seeing over the steering wheel?"
-"I didn't realize how short you really were until I stood next to you."
-"Did you drink a lot of coffee growing up?"
-"Do people comment on how short you are often?"
And the answer is yes. Everyday someone comments on my height difference and then will laugh, and say "not to make you feel short or anything." And I know when I am older, and among the work force, I will have to work for people’s respect, in order to take me seriously. But I think that earning people’s respect is an easier way to approach life, because you will always take people by surprise when you are mighty rather than timid.
But even though I complain about it and hate the fact that my pants will always be too long for me, and that I will always have to use a step stool, I would not want it any other way. And I don’t mean that in a cheesy way, I just have grown to love the perks of being short. Even though I will I never be the tall girl that stands out when they walk into a room, I will always appreciate that people think I am the perfect hug height.
And being short used to upset me when I grew up because all my friends looked older, and would be buying new pants because their old ones did not fit them anymore. While I only grew 2 inches the entirety of my high school career. But beyond all that, I have grown to appreciate the fact that I am short. In a way, like being tall, being short defines a big part of who I am. It has shaped me into a person that takes criticism and learns to laugh at myself. And despite the fact that I will never be a model, I will never be ashamed of who I am.
