Imgage source: Warner Bros/Via @measavona
Once the Australian boy moved back to the land down under in first grade, I was set to be the tallest girl in my school for the subsequent seven years. It was then time for me to move out of junior high and 2011 was a year that held so much promise. Looking forward to encountering other taller specimens of my caliber in high school, I had thought I would be another speck in the crowd my freshman year. Little did I know that I was initiated among the ranks of varsity basketball guys and super seniors who were far past their high school expiration date. To them and to my teachers, I was just another freshman who was frequently mistaken for an upperclassman. To my fellow freshman, I was that tall girl who was never really recognized as being a freshman.
Throughout the four years of attending a school with decently tall classmates, I built my relationships with a surprising number of people of short stature. Although we might have breathed different air and could literally never see eye to eye, I always seemed to get along better with these girls. Humorously, I would often comment that our friend group’s walking formation often simulated that of the at&t “raising the bar” logo. By sophomore year, I was officially the second tallest girl in high school. The varsity volleyball team was quickly becoming my safe haven because I would feel more normal standing next to them than with my friend group outside of the team. The following year, my junior year, I had quite literally shrunk 2 inches as a result of hunching over my desk while cramming for the SAT and keeping up with my AP classes. It seemed like I was beating myself up for one of the only things that made me different. Then glorious senior year dawned upon me and I quickly realized that shrugging my shoulders wasn’t going to magically make me normal height, so instead, I began to strut down the hallways with my head high and shoulders pinched back. The tall life chose me, and in my eighteen years on this planet I have loved every second of it. However, there have been a few challenges that I had to face, and here are a few tips that I picked up along the way:
-
Always order jeans from American Eagle and leggings from Athleta! Both stores have tall sizes and offer high quality material that lasts a long time.
-
Never shrink in your seat if someone shorter than you sits behind you at a concert. This land was made for you and me, not for you and Âľ Â of me.
-
When taking pictures make sure to stand wherever the hell you want because height shouldn’t dictate who you take pictures with. Except, of course, if you’re blocking someone from the photo entirely…yea that’s when you should probably make room.
-
If you’re a tall girl, you probably have big feet, and I’m here to tell you don’t give in to the Forever 21 “we only sell size 10 and under.” BUYING THEM WILL RUIN YOUR FEET.
- Also, always remember to strut with confidence because being tall is COOL.