by Chauncey Kenton

Created on: October 25, 2008

Say the words "high school" and I cringe inside, just thinking about those 4 years of agony. I attended a rural high school in the late sixties, and like a lot of other kids that attended this same school, I came from a lower income family that could not afford many of the necessities in life. To add to the misery, my family could not afford adequate medical or dental care for me, so I had to endure many insults about my weight, skin and crooked teeth. I got no sympathy at home - I came from a family that was dealing with many issues, and neither parent had the time or patience to listen to my gripes about high school. I was told to "suck it up", and make the best of it.

I managed to make it through those 4 years, and graduate in the top 25% of my class, but it was not an easy task. I can remember walking down the hallways, and clinging to the lockers, hoping that no one would notice me and that I could make it to class without someone yelling some snide remark in my direction. I tried to make myself invisible, and I rarely spoke up in class to avoid drawing attention to myself. At lunch time, I sat alone or with other kids who were dealing with their own imperfect bodies and out-of-style clothes.

I was always on the outside of social events looking in at the popular people, and their gang of wannabees. I was so envious of their long blonde hair, perfect teeth, and slim young bodies. I, on the other hand, was frumpy at age 16, fat with short dark hair, and a round face with a pug nose. I can remember laying in bed and crying that nature had conspired to make me as ugly as possible - not only ugly of face but ugly of body, also. What I did not realize at that time was how beautiful and strong nature had made me inside - and it took many years after high school to come to that realization.

After high school, I fixed the weight, the skin and the teeth - and as those external features were being corrected, my internal beauty was beginning to bloom. I met a wonderful man, started a career and a family, and learned to appreciate the imperfections in nature. I came to realize that people with movie star looks don't always have much on the ball, and carrying on a conversation with them can be a boring and frustrating experience. In contrast, many of the smartest and most interesting people that I have met have had little wealth and imperfect bodies. They don't pay much attention to "flaws" - indeed, they embrace the bumps and scars that nature dishes out as items that make them unique and different. The most interesting people I know have embraced life and all its variables, and they have made the most out of whatever situation came their way. They laugh a lot, and complain rarely, but they will listen patiently if you need to unload your emotional baggage on their door step.

There are lessons to be learned from every experience, including the years in high school. This is what I have learned, and I will pass it on here: To thine own self be true. Walk proudly down the middle of those hallways of learning, and don't let anyone steal your thunder. Keep your head held high, and remember what makes you unique makes you an interesting person. Speak up in class, but make sure you have something important to say. Pursue your dreams, but make sure they are your dreams and not someone else's idea of what your dreams should be. Be kind to all, but be a fool for none.

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