humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Unwritten
It happened 25 years ago and I still can’t believe they picked my poem to be read in front of the whole school. I would read it as the opening act for our Spring Concert. The Spring Concert was big at our school and many students practiced their various talents for a chance to perform. I went to Catholic School so the school went from Kindergarten to Eighth grade and all were eligible to sign up. Talents ranged from singing, dancing, monologues, magicians and many more. The opening act was always chosen by the school administration and this year they picked my poem, a poem about a monster that lived under my bed. I was in the fourth grade so this was a big thing for me. They had even suggested a small visual dramatization as I read my poem, maybe a bed with a monster under it while I sat on top, a fun introduction to the Spring Concert they said. I was nervous, but I was not going to say no. After all, they chose me so I was going through with it and that’s exactly what I did. I expected to become popular and all the students praise me on how well I did, but that didn’t happen. From then on I did notice an increase in encouragement from my teachers when it came to my writing. At that age, I did not understand what exactly I was doing that they liked, but all my writing assignments from then on were extra neat and well executed. I began to look differently at my writing since that Spring Concert day, was I really that good?
By Christina DeFeo5 years ago in Humans
Surviving Survival Mode
When you're younger you look at the adults around you believing that, for the most part, they've got their shit together. Not knowing the whole entire time...you had no clue what having shit together really looked like. Now that I've done that thing called growing up...well, lets be honest, I still don't know what it looks like. I've never had any examples to really draw from in real life. Just children who've aged & are doing whatever they have to in order to get to the next day. I can imagine though...& if my imagination is anything like what they say it is...I cant fucking wait to get there. *Insert awkward happy dance*
By Chanay Smith5 years ago in Humans
Forced A Fit
When life got tough, and I no longer had place to lay my head. I was so exhausted and had gotten just evicted. I had my own firm for over 8 years, but this was 2008. Once I closed my loan and real estate business I just could not fit in anymore. I went on this interview and I was like the invisible man. I was speaking to the receptionist, but it seemed she could not hear me. I was staying with a family member but they wanted to have fun and all I could do was sleep; I was forced to go drinking in a club in which I always prevented. I got so drunk I struck my sister. I was not a fit, the last time I went out with my second husband to a club I got drunk and started dancing with another man. A lot of puzzle pieces but non was the fit. I was determined to stay alive and strive. I needed income so although I was a licensed real estate agent, I was desperate. I took a job at a toner company as a telemarketer, and I had to report at 5am. I made it to work but I could not stay awake, so they let me go after two weeks. It was difficult times indeed. The worst was a firm in downtown Los Angeles. I came to work every day and maintained the best numbers but I did not fit in. A worker who I was sitting next to was sleeping with staff and using all types of profanity. I just did not fit. One employee 30 years my junior had it in for me and she was very disrespectful. She wanted to be my boss. So, one day as I was leaving work she followed me and started to call names. She called me old lady with no purpose. She and a coworker followed me to my car and tried to fight me. My husband had picked me up fearful as well for his life. I tried to fit in, but they just did not accept me. I finally left that job they wanted to just see how I did 1000 calls day as I did for my previous firm. Not fitting in the call center world took it toil at my last assignment where I spent four years as an outcast. In order to function I hade to wear ear plugs every day, the noise was loud. Although I was a producer, they refused to assign me a permanent desk. On several occasion staff call me out of my name and I was sent home for no reason. I will tell you now in the workplace if it doesn’t fit don’t force it. At that last situation even when going to restroom a co-worker pushed me. I did all I could not to retaliate. I kept trying to fit myself in environments where both the noise and the energy was not healthy for me. I was rejected because I did not smoke or curse along with them. And my strong work ethics irritated the other workers. I really wanted to fit in so I asked my manager if they had suggestions. I prayed to God, please help me God I want to fit in. Then one day when I woke up happy, dressed very pretty I get to my job and the seat I saved and put my name on they say we took your name off. The label was thrown in a nearby trash can. I got a little loud and said after 4 years I cannot know where I sit. This was a commission only position and I made zero the day before. I came to sit where I left my name, but they were rude they said go home and come back tomorrow. I left went to car and cried very hard, I just did not fit my friend. The End
By Wanda B Henry5 years ago in Humans
southern atheist
There are various means of being an outcast in one's own life. Perhaps you overdress to a more casual event. You say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place--and you're dubbed a weirdo from then on out. Any action, no matter how large or small, can render a person a "freak" simply by acting against or in spite of a social norm.
By d. e. fulford5 years ago in Humans
Outside Looking In
Through out each persons life, there comes a time when they feel out of place. That overwhelming feeling of not fitting in somewhere... Those are the moments where it becomes a challenge for you not to stop and think about what is wrong with the person you are. Why are you being treated like a misfit? What is it about you that is keeping you from fitting in? This feeling can come from a group of people at your high school or simply from a location in general. Regardless of its source, feeling like you don't belong is a disappointing situation, well at least 80% of the time. I remember this one time I felt like I was invisible, by both the location I was at and the people at the location too. Few things have made me as uncomfortable as the moment I am about to share did. I mean the kind of uncomfortable feeling that I wouldn't want anyone to have to experience.
By Carlos Guerra5 years ago in Humans
