Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sympathy
I quietly cursed under my breath while quickly trying to scribble down the daily quote in my studio art class. I was hoping to finish swiftly so I could go up to the teacher and ask her some questions about next week’s art assignment, But of course I was not fast enough and a line of about seven people were before me by the time I was finished. With a sigh I turned on my heel and headed back to my seat, hoping that eventually the line would die down so that I could saunter over and have a few words with her. I pulled out my sketch book and a mechanical pencil so I could begin the weekly drawing while keeping a wary eye on the line. Minutes went by and I quickly came to a conclusion that when one person was done talking to her two more bodies were added to the line… I wouldn’t get to talk to her today. Another heavy sigh escaped my lips and I flipped my sketchbook closed, I didn’t really have the patience to draw today.
I like where I sit in my art class, I have two of my best friends sitting on either side of me and good acquaintances opposite of us three. We have good discussions and give each other a lot of beneficial feedback, which is an exceptionally good thing in an art class (because critiquing is very important in perfecting your skills and artwork). After closing my sketchbook I’d gaze over my friends sketches, inside my mind was yelling at me and condemning me to imperfect procrastinating artwork for the rest of my life because I had set my sketch aside. But my conscience was silenced when I turned to the right of me and saw his face (We will call this boy Goph for privacy and the purpose of avoiding embarrassment).
Goph had his head slumped on his arms strewn on the side of the table, his hood shadowed his face and his breathing was heavy. I crept closer so that my face was close to his, and whispered. “Are you okay?” He shuffled a bit in his seat and slightly lifted his head up so that he could be audibly heard. “No.” He grumbled, then dropped his head upon his arms once more. The corners of my lips turned down into a sort of pouting expression, and I pulled the back of his hood down so that his dark golden curls shone in the diffused light of the classroom. He groaned at this and shifted his head so that he was peering at me. Like a ninja one of my hands disappeared beneath the table and skillfully poked his side, this made him jump a little and I pulled a face at the same time. This made him smile, which resulted in me smiling. Goph hardly ever smiles, but when he does it is like rain falling upon a dry harsh dessert; Very rare but welcoming like a blessing.
After seeing him smile I took the chance and attacked him with more questions, since I had left him vulnerable. I was not being nosy, just trying to figure out what was wrong and if I could help. Quietly, like a whisper in the wind he told me his story and then once more slumped down upon the table. The story had left me distressed, and contemplative. But I sat up and gradually placed my arms around him in a comforting and affectionate hug, one of his hands had found my elbow and he squeezed it (this apparently was his show of mutual affection). I whispered some things in his ear, and he did not reply… But I did not expect him to. Shortly after the hug the bell rang to excuse us from class, and my head was filled with puzzled questions and emotional conclusions. The majority of the class was pushing out the door like ravenous wolves trying to be first to lunch, but my feet slowly shuffled along down the hall while my gaze never left Goph, my heart whispered “Please be alright.”
I like where I sit in my art class, I have two of my best friends sitting on either side of me and good acquaintances opposite of us three. We have good discussions and give each other a lot of beneficial feedback, which is an exceptionally good thing in an art class (because critiquing is very important in perfecting your skills and artwork). After closing my sketchbook I’d gaze over my friends sketches, inside my mind was yelling at me and condemning me to imperfect procrastinating artwork for the rest of my life because I had set my sketch aside. But my conscience was silenced when I turned to the right of me and saw his face (We will call this boy Goph for privacy and the purpose of avoiding embarrassment).
Goph had his head slumped on his arms strewn on the side of the table, his hood shadowed his face and his breathing was heavy. I crept closer so that my face was close to his, and whispered. “Are you okay?” He shuffled a bit in his seat and slightly lifted his head up so that he could be audibly heard. “No.” He grumbled, then dropped his head upon his arms once more. The corners of my lips turned down into a sort of pouting expression, and I pulled the back of his hood down so that his dark golden curls shone in the diffused light of the classroom. He groaned at this and shifted his head so that he was peering at me. Like a ninja one of my hands disappeared beneath the table and skillfully poked his side, this made him jump a little and I pulled a face at the same time. This made him smile, which resulted in me smiling. Goph hardly ever smiles, but when he does it is like rain falling upon a dry harsh dessert; Very rare but welcoming like a blessing.
After seeing him smile I took the chance and attacked him with more questions, since I had left him vulnerable. I was not being nosy, just trying to figure out what was wrong and if I could help. Quietly, like a whisper in the wind he told me his story and then once more slumped down upon the table. The story had left me distressed, and contemplative. But I sat up and gradually placed my arms around him in a comforting and affectionate hug, one of his hands had found my elbow and he squeezed it (this apparently was his show of mutual affection). I whispered some things in his ear, and he did not reply… But I did not expect him to. Shortly after the hug the bell rang to excuse us from class, and my head was filled with puzzled questions and emotional conclusions. The majority of the class was pushing out the door like ravenous wolves trying to be first to lunch, but my feet slowly shuffled along down the hall while my gaze never left Goph, my heart whispered “Please be alright.”
Labels: Affection, Art, Distress, friendship, high school, impatience, Love, sad, sympathy
--Cloud Envy.
10:08 AM
0 commented
10:08 AM
0 commented
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Defining and Contrasting Teenage Stereotypes
The 'Preps'
Music - Anything played on the secular radio stations and MTV.
Clothes - Mini-versions of what adults wear, but the skirts are shorter on the girls and the pants baggier on the guys.
Attitude - A very definite 'I'm better than you, no matter what' vibe comes across when talking to these college-headed teens. They tend to be intelligent and they always look like they are going to a movie premiere in Los Angeles.
Hang-outs - Class lounges, gym and locker areas.
The 'Goths'
Music - Generally hard-core or techno, with some punk mixed in there. Favourite bands are Bauhaus, Dead Can Dance, The Sisters of Mercy, Nine Inch Nails etc.
Clothes - Uniformly black, lots of silver jewellery, big boots.
Attitude - Morbid, tending to the over-romantic, and extremely intelligent, completely against the stereotype.
Hang-outs - Some out-of-the-way classroom where they can speak without being heard.
Skaters
Music - Anything that the 'Preps' are listening to, but none of the boy-bands or Divas.
Clothes - Baggy, sagging pants, tight pants, t-shirts with logos and big shoes.
Attitude - Cocky but not generally very intelligent. All are convinced that Skaters will someday, or quite possibly already are, ruling the world. Extremely respectful of women. This clique tends to mesh a lot with the 'Preps'.
Hang-outs - In front of the building where they can hacky-sack and ditch easily.
Freaks
Music - Punk, Hard core, some metal.
Clothes - Extremely bright and flashy, generally baggy pants and tight shirts, big shoes.
Attitude - Easily the most accepting of all the cliques, but if you get on their bad side, watch out. They run in groups and can be very dangerous.
Hang-outs - Cafeteria, where they can be part of the action.
Emos/ Scene
Music- Emocore, Screamo, Grunge, Electronica.
Clothes- Dark colors, hoodies, hearts, thick rimmed glasses, tight pants.
Attitude- Upset with the world, tend to believe the fact that "everyones against them", depressed/ing.
Hang-outs - Secluded areas away from the other stereotypes, birds of a feather.
I collected all the data above* for your personal benefit if you were unaware as to what Teenage Stereotypes were. I personally think that the stereotypes that are commonly seen in Junior and High School settings are unnecesisary and irritating. Most stereotypes do not interact with eachother, therefor dividing the student body, and as individuals they deprive themselves of friendships outside of their "group" or people in the same or related stereotype. Of course as an individual this is not their fault, they just figure its easier to be friends with someone just like themselves rather than trying to get along with someone who is different. But I dare you to try, Dare you to be different. Your stereotype is different than the others i'm sure, but be different as a person and set an example to your peers and friends. Try to prove to them that from the outside looking in the many stereotypes are different and could possibly be nothing alike, But that doesn't mean that the people in them are completely different and nothing like you. Don't be afraid to meet new people and make new friends, You never know what your missing out on until you try.
*There are several other stereotypes besides the listed above; I did not take the time to state them all because they are so vast and usually only slightly differ from the most prominent stereotypes. You must also take into consideration that there are people who already live by the suggestion [last paragraph] and cannot be placed into a category because they interact and have traits of many [stereotypes].
Music - Anything played on the secular radio stations and MTV.
Clothes - Mini-versions of what adults wear, but the skirts are shorter on the girls and the pants baggier on the guys.
Attitude - A very definite 'I'm better than you, no matter what' vibe comes across when talking to these college-headed teens. They tend to be intelligent and they always look like they are going to a movie premiere in Los Angeles.
Hang-outs - Class lounges, gym and locker areas.
The 'Goths'
Music - Generally hard-core or techno, with some punk mixed in there. Favourite bands are Bauhaus, Dead Can Dance, The Sisters of Mercy, Nine Inch Nails etc.
Clothes - Uniformly black, lots of silver jewellery, big boots.
Attitude - Morbid, tending to the over-romantic, and extremely intelligent, completely against the stereotype.
Hang-outs - Some out-of-the-way classroom where they can speak without being heard.
Skaters
Music - Anything that the 'Preps' are listening to, but none of the boy-bands or Divas.
Clothes - Baggy, sagging pants, tight pants, t-shirts with logos and big shoes.
Attitude - Cocky but not generally very intelligent. All are convinced that Skaters will someday, or quite possibly already are, ruling the world. Extremely respectful of women. This clique tends to mesh a lot with the 'Preps'.
Hang-outs - In front of the building where they can hacky-sack and ditch easily.
Freaks
Music - Punk, Hard core, some metal.
Clothes - Extremely bright and flashy, generally baggy pants and tight shirts, big shoes.
Attitude - Easily the most accepting of all the cliques, but if you get on their bad side, watch out. They run in groups and can be very dangerous.
Hang-outs - Cafeteria, where they can be part of the action.
Emos/ Scene
Music- Emocore, Screamo, Grunge, Electronica.
Clothes- Dark colors, hoodies, hearts, thick rimmed glasses, tight pants.
Attitude- Upset with the world, tend to believe the fact that "everyones against them", depressed/ing.
Hang-outs - Secluded areas away from the other stereotypes, birds of a feather.
I collected all the data above* for your personal benefit if you were unaware as to what Teenage Stereotypes were. I personally think that the stereotypes that are commonly seen in Junior and High School settings are unnecesisary and irritating. Most stereotypes do not interact with eachother, therefor dividing the student body, and as individuals they deprive themselves of friendships outside of their "group" or people in the same or related stereotype. Of course as an individual this is not their fault, they just figure its easier to be friends with someone just like themselves rather than trying to get along with someone who is different. But I dare you to try, Dare you to be different. Your stereotype is different than the others i'm sure, but be different as a person and set an example to your peers and friends. Try to prove to them that from the outside looking in the many stereotypes are different and could possibly be nothing alike, But that doesn't mean that the people in them are completely different and nothing like you. Don't be afraid to meet new people and make new friends, You never know what your missing out on until you try.
*There are several other stereotypes besides the listed above; I did not take the time to state them all because they are so vast and usually only slightly differ from the most prominent stereotypes. You must also take into consideration that there are people who already live by the suggestion [last paragraph] and cannot be placed into a category because they interact and have traits of many [stereotypes].
Labels: emos, freaks, friendship, goths, high school, individuality., junior high, preps, skaters, stereotypes, teenagers
--Cloud Envy.
4:09 PM
7 commented
4:09 PM
7 commented