Original – “How Did We Manage to Survive Adolescence?”

In both stories the author highlights the idea that you can reinvent yourself based on nothing more than your outward appearance. In “Masks” this was obvious in how she was treated equally when her outward physical appearance didn’t advertise that she was “different”. In “High School’s Secret Life” it is a bit less blatant but very much the same. The “Popular” kids reinvent themselves waving the Abercrombie flag and sporting other name brand gear to draw attention to their class and detract from the attributes which might be different or not conform to the group appeal. The most glaringly obvious theme is the School Cafetorium as a proving ground for adolescence. Everyone goes out into this great unknown for the first time as an individual and until the groups are established no matter that it may happen in one day, everyone starts out solo. As the school year goes on the clans become more exclusive and the loners either band together to form smaller groups based on common interest, or there is some dividing factor which makes it impossible for a select “unlucky” few to fit in to a group and they remain alone. If the “High School’s Secret Life” were written from a perspective similar to Lucy’s, the boy with the strange muscle condition would be the Author. Both have some odd outward appearance or abnormality which clearly distinguishes them not just as different, but “not normal” and won’t be accepted into any group for fear of making that group “the weirdo’s”. The final comparison would be the obvious desire for individuals to connect with other human beings or to be accepted, and the hurt and dizzying loneliness it can bring when we fail to do so.

Although I had some awkward years in school, I never felt what it was like to be looked at as different and the fear and awkwardness is creates in people around you. Four years ago I had a minor slip and fall and the result was a fractured femoral head. This was brought about because a degenerative bone condition called avascular necrosis, where the blood circulation fails to adequately supply the bone with oxygenated blood and the bone begins to die and break. I spent the next 2 years on those awkward looking forearm crutches that they only give to people with weird diseases. After first undergoing bone grafting and vascular surgeries to try to save my hips and 18 months later total hip replacements, I finally transitioned off those damn things, though I will always walk with a limp. I had been at the same employer for 3 years and had a regular group of friends. I will never forget the first time I got on the metro bus with my forearm crutches and the way people reacted. As I looked down the row, everyone was looking at me suddenly realized they were staring and immediately tried to look away from me. When you’re doing the staring you think it’s just you, but when the eyes are on you, you realize that everyone is fully engaged. The bus was nearly full, but the first forward facing pair of seats had one open. As I headed for it the fellow in the other seat who was trying hard to become invisible, suddenly got up and strode off into the back of the bus. He didn’t even want to share a seat with me. As pain and disability took over my life, and I started losing common ground with friends I become acutely aware of our need for companionship and how isolating it can feel to have an outward appearance prevent new friendships from forming. I feel lucky to have had this happen as an adult and not have to face the cruel mean spirited nature that bonds most school aged children.