A salute to Middle School!

Last night I had a dream about Middle School that made me wake up in a panic!. Those 3 years when you begin to figure out who you are, and look horribly awkward doing it! I woke up totally freaked out and I had all those awful & exciting feelings that I had in MS! That time was really strange for me in a lot of ways. Besides having no fashion sense, and probably the worst frizzy hair & braces you have ever imagined!! I know that many girls would say the same, but how did some girls manage to look so cute and together? Ugh! How did they DO that? Middle school was some of the best and worse times for me. My 7^th grade experience was great! I ad everything I wanted at the time, all my friends in the same classes, the attention of a few boys, including my MAJOR crush of the time, and good teachers overall. Then, we moved to IN! Suddenly 8^th grade was in a new state, new people and I was no longer of any interest to anyone. It was a painful time for me. I had been moving into semi-punk/alternative music & style, but I learned quickly that those things weren’t going to fly here. Ahhh middle school…. I had a laundry list of purchases that included Umbros, and shopping at a place called Maurice’s. It took me a couple of weeks of no friends, but I finally convinced a few girls that I was nice! I made some good friends at that school and it got better slowly. I also kept very special friends that I made in GA, and who I might have lost in the growing process of middle/high school. Looking back, I would like to belive that if I had stayed in GA I could have prevented some of the bad things that happened. But I know better than that. I met some wonderful people and although middle school was rough, it taught me a lot. Going from being on the inside to being an outsider helped me understand how that felt. Although I wasn’t always perfect in High School and I made my fair share of mistakes, I would like to think that my middle school experience made me a more compassionate person and more willing to take risks with who I was and who my friends were. The middle schoolers I know today are all about dying their hair, getting boob jobs, and dieting!!!! DIETING?!?!?!? That just scares me! Even though I was awkward & quite un-cute it was ok. My mom never would have allowed me to dye my hair, and I am, pretty sure I ate more junk food that I should have, but it was OK. I know all middle school is about is fitting in, but I am thankful that I was eased into the more grown-up concerns of HS. Looking back, I thought I was grown but I was far from it and I am glad. I just wanted to say that isn’t it amazing how hard Middle School was for most of us? We should all be proud of the people we became because of those awkward years, not re-living those humiliating moments in nightmares!! Congratulations to all of us!!! Isn’t it great we are all so perfect now? (ha ha ha!) I am sharing photos because I am feeling brave & they are funny! Just don't ask about the hair or the clothing!!! ;)

6th Grade

7th Grade(yes, that is me in the blue) (sigh...)
And 8th grade. I know it is a weird photo but I was trying to keep my poor friends out of this! Just so we are clear, that is a navy top with green polka dots and I had on white jeans that were pegged! The hair is better but the clothing is not!
- Just so we are clear, I have always been a natural blond.
In middle school it was a very dirty blond that lightened in the summer!(A girl's gotta defend her roots!!!! ) :)