February 5, 2009
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I was the quiet kid at school
I was chatting the other day with one of my coworkers. She told me that she could tell I was probably one of those guys who was very popular and confident in school. I was stunned. I chuckled and told her wasn't the case. In high school, I was this quiet kid. Introverts were even more outgoing than I was. Over time, I started to make some friends but none of them were particularly close.
At lunch, there were a few people that I hung around with - mostly playing cards. They weren't the jocks or the very popular kids at school. Looking back, I wanted to be with the popular kids - to be recognized. But I was never like them. I never had their clothes, money, personality... you name it. My mom cut my hair (and my brother's) to save money. She actually did a decent job because no one noticed. We had to wear a blazer at school. I wore the same one for 5 years. It was practically shredded by the time I graduated. We also had to wear ties (dad's old ties). But that was okay because everyone hated ties and would wear the ugliest ones to school. There was one year I wore my dad's old shoes when mine wore out. It was a bit embarrassing when a couple of my classmates noticed.
So it was odd that my coworker thought I was one of the popular ones. She chuckled when I told her she was way off. Most of the time, I'm still quiet and still have a bit of that introvert in me. But when required, I can adapt and be a chatter bug too. At work, it doesn't pay to be the very quiet guy. You don't survive. I guess I'm lucky that I've been able to adapt.
What were you like at school?
Comments (28)
I have gone through various phases at various schools (my mom is in a transferable job). In the school that I spent the biggest time slot - 5th grade to 10th grade, I would say that I was popular; I was well known (having an elder brother go to the same school also played to my advantage). In my last school, where I spent the 11th and 12th grade, I was known to all in my batch and a few juniors- but I wouldn't say I was popular. Being known to all is different from being popular.
I had to wear ties and blazers (during the winter) to school too, but those were all standardized school uniforms.
quiet kid.
We didn't have a lot money either when growing up either (I'm the youngest of three daughters), but I was definitely not the quiet kid!
Oh! Your blog design has changed. I like it.
I am very quiet in class as well, which is one reason why I prefer online classes. I am just scared to talk infront of a group of 35 other students.
My mom cut our hair, too. And sometimes my pants were too short in the legs, causing teasing.
But, as your coworker noticed, these incidents do build character and turn us into much more confident and outgoing people.
Class clown
Haha, I think we were similar. I was nerdy, quiet, definitely an introvert. I was well-liked, but still an outsider with no close friends.
Well, at school I was the academic nerd but we did not have a name back then. I never took a final exam as the test could not raise my grade point. I was DJ at the Friday night dances. Started the student government and newspaper. So I guess I was well know and seeking attention back then. I grew up since and am rather quiet now.
yay for adaptation!
i was always the quiet person... still am, actually. i'm only verbose in text form =D
@CareyGLY - I would have never guessed!
@Dezinerdreams - I doubt if any of my classmates would remember me, well maybe a few.
@curry69curry - Were you at DBS?
@tomatoboi - are you still relatively quiet?
@smeeta - ah... you probably had some hand me downs then.
@mmmagination - yeah, I found this theme. I never thought you were the quiet one.
@christao408 - I agree - but back then, I would have never saw it.
@dynamiqvision - and now, you have video blogs!
@Fatcat723 - you were a DJ? That's interesting!
@kunhuo42 - verbose in text form - lol!
My mom used to cut my hair too, but stopped when I refused to get it cut after she nicked my ears one too many times...
I moved in the 'it' crowd at High School and was v. successful socially, academically and athletically; Yearbook Editor for three years; Swimmer of the Year twice and Athlete of the Year once... we were that shallow, self-obsessed, aggravating group you see in high school movies that everyone else wants - either secretly or openly - to be part of. Sadly, we were all far too self-absorbed to care about anyone but ourselves and shunned anyone not like us, which, with the gift of hindsight, is such a shame.
I'm better now
I like the new layout Matt
Are you very extroverted at work?
Did you go to a private school?
@SeanYee - hee hee... she was always a bit nervous around the ears.
@AppsScraps - oh I'm sure you're way better now. I like the layout too - took a while to find this theme.
@Wangium - yeah, pretty well. Sometimes you're just thrown in situations where you have to take charge. I went to a semi private school. Which means, it was government funded to Gr. 10, from Gr. 11 to 13 - we had to pay tuition.
I was the very smallest boy in my class. My father cut my hair. I was the lucky son out of six because I never got a crew cut. My mother used to tell me it was because my ears were big, and they were afraid I would be teased. Being the seventh child out of eight I wore my brothers hand-me-down clothes. Looking back on some of the pictures I can see how worn they really were by the time they got to me. But again, I was lucky as I was unaware of it then.
Thanks for prompting these thoughts,, I may have to blog about those days myself.
Have a wonderful weekend mate,
*~matthew~*
@ElusiveWords -
mmhmm, I am indeed. (still)
Awesome entry~! I was the shy/quiet one in school too. A lot sure has changed over the years. As we get into the real world, we realize that staying quiet will not get you anywhere. After going through college and landing a couple of jobs, I slowly started to get away from the shy/quiet phase. Then I started meeting up a lot of random photographers and sooner or later, you get to network and meet lots of people ^_^ I would've never guessed that I would be this social ^_^
Isn't it interesting how people see us, their perceptions...In school I thought I was quiet and withdrawn...my friends and people I went to school told me I was popular and a bit snobby, definately had an "aura" about me ...I did not know or feel that...interesting... 'Til The Next
i was the smallest and quiet one always in school. made to get first in line to my being so small...oh well now i learned how to work and speak around others yet i still am very quiet for the most part and yet i think i learned so much being quiet and observing...
glad you are still here and well and always hopefully happy
_meikaili_
I was popular in teachers eyes because I don't make trouble in the class. So that kind of put me on Quiet student.
@ImprezaGirl - yeah, I agree - you can't be quiet and too laid back when you're out there working.
@GracePrince - an aura around you? Hmm... that's interesting.
@bleuzeus - I'm looking forward to your entry. When I started writing this entry, I didn't even think about my mom cutting my hair. It just popped out of the blue.
@luvmei - that's interesting, I think being quiet back then has helped honed my observation skills too.
@vsan79 - ahh... a favorite of the teachers.
Swearing does reduce the pain! Trust me! I drop FUCK FUCK FUCKITY FUCK whenever I do something clumsy therefore causing some unwanted pain to my body. And I always feel better.
@hangshimkim - lol... I try to tone down the swearing if someone else is there.
as much as I respect my parents for being economical for cutting me and my brother's hair, I hated it. It's cuz they cut out too much. It made us look like we had big heads cuz it was so short (but never as bald as now which looks much better). I always fidgeted because my dad would literally spend like over 45 minutes just to keep on shaving and shaving and shaving inch by inch off until I got split ends and my skin felt raw from all the repetitive razor to hair contact.
Later in life, I really appreciated the idea of paying for $7 hair cuts as I didn't have to deal with marathon shaving and had hair afterwards to actually style with a comb.
Oh yes, I was also an extreme introvert. I would later take a personality test where I had a perfect score as an introvert over extrovert. But I too can adapt. Speaking and taking leadership roles is like something I can choose at will but I'd have to consciously focus my intensity to do so. I learned later on in life that intensity and focus was a gift as well as a curse. Some people who underestimate me and think i'm just a quiet guy don't see it coming until it's too late
LOL!! Perhaps "aura" is the wrong term...the attitude word is better
@alchemystfury - wow, 45 mins must have seen like an eternity especially with the shaving. Gee... you should make this into an entry.
haha, perhaps, but another time. Just trying to get back in the swing of things. But I do like the idea of wearing blazers and ties. Perhaps it's because I didn't have to growing up so there's something very enchanting about it. = p
Comments are closed.