Thursday, June 10, 2010

Poor Unfortunate Soul

Being that this is the year of my 10 year high school reunion, I have been reflecting a lot back on who I was at that time. I have been wanting to do a blog post for awhile that captured the essence of Brooke in high school, but last night clinched it. I was having a conversation with four 15 year olds about....well, I don't really remember about what. Anyway, I made the comment that I was a tragic nerd in high school. THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME! I insisted and then one said (you know who you are) "Well, when did you all of a sudden just become really cool?" I looked around to see who the conversation was being directed at. Oh......me. Well, the truth cannot be hidden anymore. I was a Poor Unfortunate Soul in high school, and I am not talking about the Disney movie where a voluptuous octupus shakes her shimmy in a way that is scandalously marketed to 4 year olds. I was the epitome of a nerd cake, and I am about to prove it to you. And just so you know, this is nothing like the clip I saw of Jennifer Aniston where she swears she was a nerd in highscool. I think she may have been referring to that one day she got a pimple.....

  • I was Captain of the Badminton team. Yes, badminton.
  • I had a uniform that I wore almost everyday to school. It went something like this: run the brush through your hair, put on your oversized polo or t-shirt, slide on your baggy jeans or khakis, and slip into your canvas, boy-like shoes. Done. Once or twice I wore something that my mom convinced me was "feminine". All day long I was sure that boys were looking at me inappropriately, so I went back to the uniform.
  • I earned the "Outstanding Orchestra Member" award. You know that whatever I had to do to earn that can not be good.
  • I think the grand total on my friend count was 6.
  • I am recalling an experience that scared me away from makeup until I was 18 years old. I decided one day in 8th grade that I was going to wear some makeup. This was not a regular occurence for me, though I owned all of the neccesary equipment. I think my mother had purchased it for me, hoping I would somehow overcome my ugly duckling status. I did my best and then went about my day, including Mr. Granio's Honors Earth Science class. The next morning, when I went to put on my makeup, my mom said "Oh, sweetheart. Can I help you?" I went back to science and as Mr. Granio was passing out papers, he stops at my desk, analyzes my face for a second, and says "Much Better".
  • I loved grownups way more than I loved people my own age. I was on a quest to make them all like me and be my friend. I think I did a pretty good job, because every adult I ever came in contact with was convinced that I was a saint.
  • I was nominated as "Math's Student of the Month". Once again, whatever that required surely put me on the nerd list.
  • I never went to any "boy ask girl" dances. I suppose I could have paid someone to take me....
  • Oh yeah! I forgot! I liked two boys my senior year. Now both of those boys also like boys. It's probably safe to say that those relationships were dead in the water before they even started.

I am having nightmares just reliving some of these experiences, so I will stop here. I am sure the pictures will fill in the details.



This was my 16 birthday. Hmmmmm, Looney Toones and a walkman.
PROOF!

This is a good example if the uniform.


The day I got my driver's permit. What I remember from that day was I was 5'5'', 105 pounds, and I thought I was fat. Oh, and somehow I convinced them to let me play softball at Highland, which was kind of a cool sport.



Practicing away
I think the point of focus in this picture is that I am 16 years old and wearing one piece pajamas and holding a stuffed animal. If I remember correctly, this was supposed to be a blackmail picture.

I gave this picture of me sitting barefoot on a dirty bench outside of target to the boy I somehow convinced to go out with me because I thought it was cute. Baggy polo, baggy jeans.

You see that green and purple huge tie dyed t-shirt. Yea. I wore that way more than I would like to admit.


Grrrrrrr. First day of 11th grade.

I thought my boom box was suh-weet. Funny thing is I couldn't have told you a top 40 song to save my life, but I could have written a 10 page paper on Buddy Holly.


This is a good capture of me and my friends. I think there is only 2 of them missing. Also, I do not possess the ability to be serious in pictures.

Morp, Junior year

I really don't know what is going on this picture, but someone should really rescue that tree.

Senior picure, 17 years old. I think this was the high point of my highschool looks, and I can't take any credit for it. We just came from the salon where someone cut and styled my hair and my mom did my makeup.
Praise be, it's over!
In retrospect there was no one day when "all of a sudden I became really cool". I don't think that's ever going to happen. Some people were just never meant to be cool :) But I did gain confidence somewhere along the way. This came in two waves. First, about the time I turned 18 I discovered that it was okay to be a girl. I could pluck my eyebrows, wear makeup every day, wear clothes that showed off my figure, heck, shower everyday! Second of all, I had a profound life changing experience when I was 21 that taught me that we are all worth so much in God's eyes. So, I started trying to get to know people just for the sake of getting to know them, and no one intimidated me anymore. This has made all the difference. I think I am ALMOST as cool as Jennifer Aniston now......














20 comments:

Heather said...

I never went to boy ask girl dances either! Except when I asked Tyler to Prom. And now he is gay. Hmmm. Oh well :) What cute pictures. You look so young! I don't remember you looking so young! ha ha crazy how our perspectives change :)

Jill said...

Oh Brooke! How I remember(and loathe) high school! Those pics were great. we were all nerds back then, even the "cool" kids. And believe it or not I DO remember that tie-dye tshirt!! :)

Landon and Jill Beyler said...

You are too funny! (and cute in some of those pic!)you know what-- this just makes me love you more! I don't think the high light of our lives is suppose to be high school. They certainly weren't glory days in my memory either. You know what has always drawn me to you and still does is your sense of humor- you and cory were and are upbeat fun people to be around. Makes me miss you!

Camilla said...

I think you're cool, Brooke. I dunno if that really counts, i was just as, if not more nerdy than you were.

Amy said...

You're way cooler than Jennifer Aniston. I think everyone was nerdy in high school...I know I was!

Celeste Caldwell said...

LOVED the pictures Brooke!! I must say I'm with you on a lot of those stats. Good 'ole badminton. I never made it to captain but was always the last one on the todum pole. What was that called exhibition..yeah Mrs. Jones hated me. ha ha!! Never a boy ask girl dance either. Ahhh but still good times. I look back and am sooo thankful I had the girlfriends I had. Who would want to get mixed up/screwed up with all the other drama high school has to offer. I always think what High School would be like the person I am now. Hmmm??? I think you are one FANTASTIC girl!! Glad we knew each other from Jr. High and on. Yay!!

Bud & Kim said...

You have NO idea how much I love this post. I'm certain we were meant to be friends. And for the record no one could pay me enough to relive high school again. Oh my senior picture...let's just say we didn't buy any I have a proof somewhere and still don't have enough confidence to post it on my blog. T-shirts and jeans were my uniform of choice too. Oh I could go on and on.

The Stanford Bunch said...

hahaha Brooke! The funny thing is that I think you are adorable in these pix. :) I can relate to so much of this. I was a nerd too, and I think I still am!! Oh well! Atleast it doesn't matter as much now! I remember loving that about college, there weren't really any groups like in high school. SO glad we never have to go back!!!

Robyn said...

Brooke,
I can relate to so much of this post, it's not even funny! I think most of us were in the ugly duckling (nerd) phase of our lives in highschool for sure (myself included). It's funny to look back and see things that ment so much to us at the time and realize how much we've changed or not changed in some areas.

blank said...

Hey! I was "math student of the month" too!!! :P

ASTRA REED said...

hello, this is really very funny... and the pics are so wonderfull..you looks so younge and handsum. kool ya..

Jamie C. said...

I pray that my kids aren't "cool" in high school! If you're cool in high school, it's nothing but down hill. I swear all the "really cool" people I know now were NOT cool in high school. Your description of your uniform was exactly what I wore in high school. Except for the tie dye shirt- I never went there. That would have been social suicide for sure...how did you ever survive that tragic mistake? ;)

ecuakim said...

What a great post. High School was terrible. And I can relate to the make up thing. My mom took me to buy makeup the second I turned 12 because I was "so pale." I had to wear it every day after that. And a couple of times when I didn't wear it, there were people who didn't recognize me. I was mortified. And hurt. But somehow, we pick ourselves up, brush off the dirt and move on.

Crys said...

It isn't your fault that Phoebe came out just knowing how to wear makeup....haha I loved this post because it so reminded me of high school...the reason I left after three years. Currently though I refuse to pull out any of my photographic evidence. I laughed so hard when I read about your senior year romances. I had to read that line outloud to my mom...of course she didn't even crack a smile. Our moms are weird :)

Nyline said...

Oh Brooke, I always was envious of you when I moved back to az from delaware. Even though I am several years older than you, I was always envious of your natural beauty inside and out. You are one of those people that don't need makeup.

As far as the liking boys that...like boys now, I actually was almost engaged to one so don't feel bad! The point is, you didn't marry one that likes boys.

You always were the definition of the girl next door. You were adorable back then, and yes you made me think being on the badmitton team was cool and you made me think you were even more awesome because you could play an instrument and I couldn't. Over all, you are just AWESOME!

Mary Postert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mary Postert said...

I think you are one of the coolest people I know. I love who you are, who you have become and who you have helped me to become.

Crystal said...

It's better to be a late bloomer anyway (says one late-bloomer to another). I'm glad I knew you then and I'm glad we're both over that stage of life.

The Stimpsons said...

I love this post! You are hilarious. Although, I might have been more nerdier than you! I didn't go to any boy ask girl dances either, I think I liked the same to boys who like boys but the topper is I was the worst on the Badminton team you captained! Boy, the good old days. Can't believe it has been ten years. Crazy! Cute pictures :)

Bee said...

You were an awesome captain for the badminton team!!! Love the pictures... :)

BTW, not only did I pretty much match all your HS nerd qualities, I didn't get to be on the softball team, and I think I was "math student of the month" more than once (and also a spelling bee champ...) Yeah. Not gonna lie, I'm still a little bit of a nerd...but love it. :)