Youthful Life: X

"W hen someone shows you who they are,  believe them  the first time." Maya Angelou Being perceived as intimidating is an interesting conundrum. Especially as someone who is hyper-aware of the narratives being projected onto, and around the identities I hold are. Much of my conscious time is spent doing all in my power to lessen my "intimidation" factor. Is intimidation necessarily a synonym for fear - not always - but in the context of me, I have found that people have remarked, once they had the opportunity to know me, that they were afraid to speak to me. Read in to that as much as you would like with what identity dynamics be at play. I smile more than I need to, even the pitch of my voice oscillates to a kinder tone for the appeasement of others, and the list goes on and on. As of late though, a new version of intimidation has been applied as an unwanted label to me, and I imagine many of those who share some of my qualities. People will comment that I...

Truth - I have no idea what my post-college version of adulthood will be. I can identify bits and pieces of what my version of adulthood might look like but other than that I'm lost without a guide to help me on my way. There are no waypoints, no path markers, or points of interests to show me who or where I should be. Am I grown up enough? Do I act appropriately for me age? Will I be taken seriously? I'm betwixt and between.    "You think that adulthood will hit and you'll suddenly be more capable. But that doesn't happen, ever, does it?" Sally Hawkins   My entire conceptualization of adulthood has always been skewed because I never say myself becoming one. I guess I always imagined it to be this point of arrival and knowing that I could be self-sufficient or contribute positively to society. In actuality it's not a single place that you come or even a state of being but rather a lifelong journey. To be quite honest, I still have no idea what it...

Being a teenager is all about making the best out of any situation. No matter what goes down, even if it's not exactly what was originally planned, you've got to learn to roll with whatever comes your way. You can change the outcome of anything that goes on in your life, as long as you are willing - you are able. Just like that soap opera, you've got one life to live - so live it up. This is the story of my NACURH 2012 CU Boulder experience - part 1 of 3, here we go. This whole thing started Friday morning when my brother drove me in the pouring rain to the airport, just across the border in Kentucky. I get down and immediately get down to business. I check my bag, and proceed to security which is my least favorite part. I remove my belt, my sweater, and my shoes before entering the scanner with my skinny jeans sagging a bit and my black plaid boxers giving everyone a free show. I wait a minute and have to spread my arms and legs and get patted down, as they run my car...