GEEK TO CHIC? BEING POPULAR IN HIGH SCHOOL DOES NOT MATTER
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top and skirt a gift of FOLTERCLOTHING.COM
check out my review of their clothing at glittergrrrls.com.
So
I’ve finally reached that stage in my life where I start reminiscing
about my days in high school and college. Ah yes, fun times they were!
But those times of laughter and merriment were not without their share
of tears, tantrums, and just the general feeling of awkwardness about growing
up.
Sure, I had a
healthy number of close friends, but I wasn’t a cheerleader, I didn’t
date the cutest jock in school, and by no means was I anywhere near a
size 2. It was more like 2 x 4 - hehe.
I remember being completely unpopular in high school. There were times when I used wished I could trade with the most popular
girls in school, just to see what it would feel like. Even now, as I
watch my sister go through her high school years, I sometimes get that
"Never Been Kissed" moment where I wish I could go back the way I am
now, wow everyone, and be the envy of all the other girls.
Well, I used (keyword "used") to wish that. That is until I noticed
something in the last couple of months that made me realize how much
life can change. I have had the fortunate or unfortunate
(depending on how you look at it) circumstances of running into old
classmates from elementary school to high school.
I was rather shocked by the appearances of these old colleagues. The
thinnest, most popular, or girls considered to be the hottest gained a
lot of weight and just had this general look of individuals who
apparently let themselves go. The heavy girls from high school were now
slim, beautiful, and looked like they just stepped out of a magazine.
The geekiest guys were now buff in tight muscle shirts. The kind of
guys you do double takes with. Believe it or not, 9 times out of 10 this was the case with every meeting.
So what exactly happened here? *scratches head*
Is this one of the great ironies of the world?
This is teaching me a great lesson about growing up. Individual
definition is constantly growing and evolving, (physically,
emotionally, spiritually, etc) so to worry about whether fitting in or
not at any age, is just plain silly!
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DO YOU KNOW OF AN OLD CLASSMATE THAT WENT FROM GEEK TO CHIC?
DO YOU KNOW OF AN OLD CLASSMATE THAT WENT FROM HOT TO NOT?
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August 1st, 2005 at 7:37 pm
I wasn’t in the popular group during my high school and college. But I tried to be outstanding in other way.
I compared my classmates’situation then and now. Well….most of them are still the same. Few of them underwent some physical or attitude changes.
Even I also went through some changes. Physically: I gained more and more weight..That sucks, ’cause I have to buy bigger clothes but I improve how I look. I change the way I talk, the way I approach people and friends, more open.
August 1st, 2005 at 10:56 pm
I don’t remember being so insecure about myself when i was in highschool or in college. I cared less about a lot of things..myself physically(but I got several suitors mind you..haha!) I was with the popular group when I was in highschool, well, one reason cuz I was the artistic one they all relied their projects on me. The only thing that really disappointed me was when we were all in college already. some went to different schools some got married before they even graduate highschool or after they graduated highschool. But it is really funny to think that after all the years that you haven’t seen those people that you used to hang with when you were in your school days it’s very fascinating to think how they changed. Some used to be fat now so slim, others used to be slim now so fat..plus not to mention those ugly ducklings that were avoided during the junior and senior prom line up not to be paired with at the cotillon now they look more like movie stars..what a transformation! From ugly catterpillar to beautiful butterfly…wonders of nature and I thank God for that.
August 2nd, 2005 at 5:51 am
as cliche’d as it sounds, this is exactly the case with my high school friends too. Most of the ‘popular, hot, most wanted’ girls from school gained lots of weight and the girls who were made fun of are now slim and so so pretty. Im not being conceited but i believe iam one of the latter, i wasnt exactly ‘ugly’ in high school but looking bak at old fotos i was a very big (as in fat) girl and ppl now dont even believe im the same girl. i went from a size 14 to an 8 (aus sizes). I was popular but because i was one of the only asians in my grade i didnt really appeal to anyone. Not that it makes me feel any better seeing my old friends but it makes u think that wat ppl label you in high school - although i think that if you were teased bak then it gives u the motivation to show them how successful u can be.
August 2nd, 2005 at 2:21 pm
They say youth is wasted on the young… They also say people often grow up to be the opposite of what/who they were as kids - I think people who are fat, geeky, unpopular in high school realize, at some point that their whole life is ahead of them and HS is a mere 3 - 5 years out of a hopefully 80+ year life span. Many times i thought my life as I knew it was over… and indeed segments of my life were (over) - but it’s the big picture that counts. “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” That’s a line from a Crosby Stills & Nash (I think) Song.. It sums up my attitude. Maybe some day I’ll be brave enough to post pix when I was “older.” Talk about cliches: Now I have the best of both worlds, the wisdom and age and the appearance of youth. Kids who I can be a kid with, a parent to and a friend of.
This jumbled mass of words brought to you off the dome - BTW: Nice outfit, does it come in my size??
August 3rd, 2005 at 8:14 am
–BEING
Wow you know how to get a guy’s attention. It can be hard to imagine you as not cute even back in high school. But I do remember seeing high school and middle school classmate that undergone changes. I have grown older but in some ways I am very much the same. I ran cross country and was pretty skinning. Over time I learn from my best friend (during school) find being yourself to be cool {or the cool in being}. You have to be able to laugh at yourselves.
I do remember having the foresight not to make fun of the ugly ducklings. Making fun of people was never my style anyway. Yet I do meet a few “Why Didn’t I Ask You Out in High School” women. I was so shy it was ridiculous. As for my H.S., crush I would run into her maybe ever other year. The last time I saw her I thought ok this is silly, so I ask her for her phone number. She reluctantly gave the phone number. She is now too busy to talk to me; really rude about it too. Can you blame her? I never took the time to figure who she was; so I don’t know if she has change or was always like this. As for the way she looks she gained weigh but it looks sexy on her. We truly focus too much on being a smaller size instead of healthy.
RW
August 5th, 2005 at 4:03 am
i just saw ur blog in the list of the featured blogs here on friendster.. well, i oh so agree with your realization.. i mean i wanted to be popular when i was in 5th grade.. and now, im a sophomore.. and realized that it isnt important coz i know the feeling now.. ahaha.. but still, it doesn’t make you “complete” or something…
August 7th, 2005 at 2:58 am
Hmm… there’s something strange about me… I was a geek since I was born all the way through to uni, I still am a geek, I’ll probably die a geek, but I do have geek pride, I reckon it was a miss type in the bible, where it says “the meek shall inherit the earth” it should say “the geek shall inherit the earth.” ;P
August 10th, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Great blog….Mabuhay!
August 10th, 2005 at 11:48 pm
Yup, yup, yup! Those famous girls in high school still managed to become famous, well, in a less glamorous way (u know what I mean, marrying young then split, getting unwanted pregnancies,and looking bitchier and nastier). But for those ugly ducklings, still the same, but some have managed to shine by being stylish, honorable, and more sensible in enjoying their singlehood, career, or choices in life. Well, I am just talking about the girls. So, what about the boys? Most of them have grown their belly, less handsome, and earning more, good money. Haha! Pretty complicated things. Me? I am one of those struggling con artist that exist in the world. ;-p
August 13th, 2005 at 2:35 am
i happen to belong to a popular group of girls in HS, not that i was sexy or something (i was so skinny my own friends called me ‘butiki’ or lizard) but because i grew up being pals w/ them since grade school. u may call that luck but i know what u mean by being not so popular back then. popular for HS boys hav to be ’sexy.’ my ordinary bf grew up to be really hot & was stolen by the hottest chick. but yeah, most of the cutest guys became not so yummy after college; sexy girls became too heavy. as for me… i was lucky to gain just enough weight at 19 & maintain it til now that im in my mid 30s.
August 15th, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Interesting post. I have had similar coversations with friends, and we’ve made similar observations: We go to high school reunions and see, to our surprise, that the cute and popular kids have grown up to be overweight, balding, and boring, while the outcasts, geeks, nerds, and dweebs are totally interesting and total hotties. Goes to show what a farce high school values and society are. Yet, when one is wrapped up in that, when one is IN high school, one can’t see beyond that. When I was there, I thought it was my fate to be friendless and unwanted. And then, to my surprise, I grew up, and made more friends than I ever dreamed I could, and dated all sorts of attractive people. I think about how the Columbine killers were driven by a feeling of being trapped in that restrictive and oppressive high school society. If only they had waited a few years and seen that popularity (or lack thereof) is totally meaningless!!!!
August 16th, 2005 at 8:30 am
Well I was a geek in highschool(i thought I was but that was what I think. I did’nt know cause most of the girls in my class admires me. I had lot of insecurities so I don’t socialize a lot. Then, I remember one time when we were ask to make a letter to a crush without putting someone’s name and 3 letters came to me.It boosted up some of my confidence, which helps me to be more confident and be more outgoing. Most of the time it helps to have a lot of friends, they act as your guide, companion, and go to when your down.
August 16th, 2005 at 8:31 am
Well I was a geek in highschool(i thought I was but that was what I think. I did’nt know cause most of the girls in my class admires me. I had lot of insecurities so I don’t socialize a lot. Then, I remember one time when we were ask to make a letter to a crush without putting someone’s name and 3 letters came to me busted up some of my confiden
August 20th, 2005 at 4:00 am
do I know of any of my old classmates who changed from not to hot or vice-versa? Truth is I aint so sure, I seem to have lost communication to any of them but am planning to find them again. But chances are there are, people change, that’s for sure, some change for the better some for the worse. I am a believer that all people wanted to be happy, we search for this state of well-being…the underdogs in high school, who were losers sooner or later realizes that they need to improve, where else would they go and they do…I know I was one of the underdogs in high school but it seems I have a stroke of good luck cause whenever I turn, people would reach an arm for help(thanks a lot). The teacher who encourages, the friends who support…and so despite my many stupid insecurities I made something good out of my high school….as for the winners who turn to losers, I ain’t so sure about them-maybe they got complacent or they were really weak from within….
August 24th, 2005 at 6:59 am
I’m still in school and the popular girls rock the school. It’s funny when you think you’re not that good looking but there are people who admire you. Right now I’m just focused with my studies
August 26th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
man….I thought you are my classmate in high school….I lost contact with her 2 years ago….She look like you that’s why….Anyways…I found you were not…bye…
August 31st, 2005 at 10:16 am
Hi! As I was saying on my message, I totally agree w/ your observation that the popular girls/ guys tend to increase their sizes (horizontally), gone bald, got married young then divorced, have 3 kids by now, etc. While the unpopular kids shed their insecurities and gained confidence, good looks, and well, basically are enjoying the lives that they deserve. I too was the unpopular kid in high school, and I USED to wish that I could be one of the popular girls that went out w/ the most popular guys. But when I looked back and thought about how the popular guys used their gfs for sex and talked mad sh*t about the details of their sex lives w/ their gfs to their friends during football practices and weight training classes, I started to think twice, and now thanked these guys for saving me from becoming the considered the football team’s slut.
August 31st, 2005 at 9:27 pm
I really didn’t have a label in highschool. If I had to have a label it would most likely be one of the “tolken asian boys” I was neither popular nor was I on the bottom of the totem pole. More like in the middle. I hung out with alot of people but I wasn’t in any clique. I was a partial jock since I played soccer. A partial geek for being on the chess team. Partial skater/punk for listening to alternative and rock as well as rollerblading. Part thug for listening to hip hop and breakdancing. Living in a black neighborhood also contributed to that. And the list goes on. Preppie, goth, you name it. My openmind is to blame for all of this. Everybody got their equal share of getting picked on by each other including myself. I lost contact with alot of people in high school and elementary school. The ones that I have encountered again has managed to look the same. I myself have not changed much but I AM working on being just cut instead of big and buff.
September 15th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
OMG i can sooo much relate to this…i had my issues then…until i went out to one of the most popular filipino guys in high school…then they start noticing me. lol yeah now the hot chics are fat n the not so hot are now the bomb!!
September 18th, 2005 at 12:54 am
Well, it just that i never really have the guts (nor luck) to attend any of my school’s reunion. I do have some contacts with my friends back then, i mean other that my old gang (the gang still going strong after a decade), and basically i agree with the facts: those who are ‘the elite’ are more likely turns to be ‘the usual’, and vice versa. it’s just that i used (remember, ‘used’) to be some kind of role model in the schooldays, being good-mannered, having good grades, etc, that i dont have the guts to show up unless i become ’someone’ first.
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi
January 13th, 2006 at 11:57 am
They still do high school reunions? Didn’t that go out with like 1984 and advent of pentium computers? I can’t imagine wasting my time talking to people I tried my best to dicth at every possible opportunity when I was stuck there…
February 20th, 2006 at 3:03 am
Dear Daphne….. u r so right!
Being popular n hot in high school is not that all important… as I was such a geek, I was even proud that I was a geek before because Iw as different hahaha.
And yes, looks do change. I was really really ugly before, as I was short, fat, got glasses n braces and very shy. I even think looking back at my photos when I started high school was yucky.
Now I’ve changed… I’m still not the hottest girl around, but at least I wasn’t as bad as I was in high school and my confidence boosted too (being female, i was very very conscious about my body).
Anyway enough about me… you rock Daphne… i like reading your blogs n ur topics! You go, girl…
February 27th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
haha I wasn’t so hot in high school, either. mos def I was a smart girl (except in Math LOL), but everyone (well, almost, as I did realize I had a few friends who appreciated my quirkiness)HATED me & those who asked me out in senior year were utter bigger losers than I’ll ever be.
I really didn’t care, as long as I was having fun after class.
now I’m fatter than ever, gloriously jobless, out-of-school, & dalaga pa to boot, but at least in our 10th-yr reunion I had fun & I think people now realize what they’ve been missing about me, hehe.
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:09 pm
well I think being popular isn’t that “must have” for every student especially during high school, but I simply believe that it gives a person a certain confidence to become competitive. I speak from my own experiences.
March 3rd, 2006 at 1:17 pm
well I think being popular isn’t that “must have” for every student especially during high school, but I simply believe that it gives a person a certain confidence to become competitive. I speak from my own experiences.
March 7th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
its such a beautiful day
March 9th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
this made me remember of the popular story of ugly duckling.. which in turn made me remember lilo and stitch… ohana means family.. and the family that prays together stays together…
March 26th, 2006 at 9:39 am
I don’t think that being popular is a necessity in high school, but a person should be popular at some point whether if its for one semester in college, or respected in your first job or something. it builds self-esteem. popular people from high school go to college and only in college to they recongize that they aren’t cool at all.
May 30th, 2006 at 5:26 am
This post really hit HOME.
The same thing happens everywhere in the world. Be it Malaysia or England or Wales.
I think the only reason why Ms Popular turns into Ms Average is because she figures she’s already pretty hot so why bother make an effort to look any better? Whereas Ms Geek would try to improve and improve all through her late teens slash early adulthood and thus, transforming into a swan — And i’m not talking about artificial beauty here. Just people who grow out of their pimples, learn how to dress well, get rid of their cavemen eyebrows and get that big jungle excuse of a hair a GOOD cut - and finally, earning their long-awaited-for self-confidence.
July 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
well i was popular in every stage if my life or age hehe,if im fat women i knew want fat guys when im extra thin they sifted their ideal man
i mean it a matter of how you carry yourself.now i appear married because i got some belly ,they dont mind having a “married guy “,its the men who are particular because if a girl gets fat they looked so gross naked hehe