Man, I'm not sure. I wasn't able to participate in many extracurricular activities or sports growing up. And although I was friendly with most everyone in school, I had few close friends. My parents weren't very hands on, and had little interest in driving me to practices and friend's homes.
I also struggled off and on from middle school onward due to life at home. Most of my friends at school were high honor students, and I was always the outlier. They knew I had a difficult time keeping my head above water and even pulling my weight with group projects. So they probably didn't expect to see me land where I have? I graduated on time, landed my first job prior to graduation, and have had my feet pretty firmly planted, since.
I feel like my life has done a complete 180 since graduating from high school, now that I have control of it myself. (Parental influence out of the picture.) I'm getting out there and trying things I've always wanted to (sailing cert this weekend!), and chasing my dreams SO hard. I have had a few high school acquaintances friend me on FB, and then message me saying things like: "wow, you've really travelled the world! crazy!" So I'm sure some are surprised that my life went from drear to one filled with adventure. (Climbing glaciers, visiting pyramids, swimming with sharks in Bora Bora.) Maybe they think: "I didn't see that coming, with CB!"
I also was one of the first to get married (early 20's), which must have been a surprise as I didn't date around and was really shy.
I probably have somewhat of a bad relationship with FB. I know that when I've reached some milestones or crossed off a bucket list item and been able to post about it, I've subconsciously thought "see, people?? I did that! CloudBee, that girl who was so bland back in the day." Probably because I feel like no one ever saw me as anything more than that quiet girl in the hall? I'm sure this isn't healthy.
I feel the same, and I know I shouldn't. And that it is petty. But I can't help it. I had an awful high school experience thanks to many of my peers.
I feel the same, and I know I shouldn't. And that it is petty. But I can't help it. I had an awful high school experience thanks to many of my peers.
It's tough when you were viewed as something weren't, all because you lacked control. Kids often leave their peers by the sidelines without even understanding why. It sucks. Sometimes I want to scream "I did something with my life, I'm not nothing, I amounted to something".
Yeah, for sure. People have told me so. I was fairly bookworm-ish in HS... a hippie stoner theater nerd with a 4.2 GPA. I wasn't boy crazy, just some casual flings. So when I got married and knocked up in college, people were like, huh? I think they would have predicted single, childless, and backpacking Europe post-masters degree at this age.
Post by lexxasaurus on Sept 16, 2014 15:09:21 GMT -5
Hm, I think I turned out different than others expected. I was a hot mess in a lot of ways and I really got my shit together, moved around til I found someplace to settle. Plus I was a huge party girl so people are always surprised I'm sober now.
Post by joshlyman on Sept 16, 2014 16:19:39 GMT -5
I don't think my life is shocking either.
Most amusing talking point would be how I got drunk and went back to one of the hottest guys in HS's place and we made out and..stuff lol (10 years ago when I was 21, sigh. 'Twas a great confidence booster!). I was kind of a nerdy, quiet prude in HS, so that would probably shock some people
Some may be surprised at how liberal I am, and that I am an atheist, but most people that really knew me back then wouldn't be surprised by either of those things.
Post by wildfloweragain on Sept 16, 2014 17:15:48 GMT -5
Hmm. Maybe surprised that I'm only speaking English and teaching at a regular school. I got the foreign language award in high school and am doing nothing with it.
I think people would have saw me having kids a lot earlier than now (we have none.)
I'm like puddleofgrace ... I felt like hot mess (not sure if I was perceived like that though) and feel they would be surprised.
I don't know though. I'm much more successful that I ever thought I'd be. I'm a lot happier than I ever thought I could be too, but don't really have a good gauge of what others thought of me.