News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
World News
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Classifieds
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
Opinions
We're Not In High School Anymore
By Jill Schoepfe
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2003
I don't know if you remember my name. But if you've eaten at Garvey Commons in the last year you might have seen me.
I was that sheepish girl standing in front of the drinks with milk running down my pants. Ever wonder who left the trail of laundry detergent dripping from the Sherburne Hall basement up eight flights of stairs and down the carpeted hallway? Guilty as charged.
During my time at college I've managed to earn my title as a first-rate klutz, taking an honorable position up there with the Garvey silverware thieves and the people who turn on the faucet when using the bathroom.
And while I've come to accept this role, I admit something in me wants more. I want others to know the person behind my outward behavior.
Maybe you can relate. Remember high school? We had our class clowns, our truck drivers, our prom queens, our trekkies. We were each assigned certain roles to play, and we acted them well. But we all knew these labels weren't who we really were. So what stopped us from digging deeper?
Even though high school is past, we're still afraid to take the risk of really getting to know a person. Isn't it easier to describe somebody as "sweet" or "funny" or a "player" instead of finding out exactly why he comes across that way? Good grief, I didn't think my complex personality and emotions and values could be summed up so concisely!
Yet that's what we do - because it's easier. But in the end, we miss out on so much.
Everyone has a story, but it takes time to find. It may take weeks, or months, or years to know someone else as deeply as we innately desire. But that's why the experience is so rare and valuable to us. We are infinitely complex beings beneath our baseball caps and our tote bags, just waiting to be discovered. Maybe that klutz in the cafeteria has a story to tell. Who knows?
Now is the time to find out.
Forum:
No comments have been posted for this story.
Post a comment
Privacy Policy
Network Advertising
Article Syndication
