It's the strangest thing, being only five foot three and a half. In my High School, with lots of Dutch people who were all seven feet tall, it was always a struggle seeing anything in the hallways. I had to fight to not get trampled. Even seventh and eighth graders were taller than me.
My friends were all taller too and when we walked around the school, I would be running to keep up with their normal walking pace. The common phrase was, "It's funny because you're short."
Even after I've graduated and I traverse the real world, my height has been the source of confusion and amusement.
For example, I've been working in our Elementary School Library for the month. A teacher I didn't know came up to me as I was working behind the desk.
Teacher: "Oh, do you have school off today? Or, oh, you're home schooled?"
Me: "...I'm graduated."
Or the time I visited my aunt in Alberta and worked at her church.
Stranger: "Nice to meet you. And...it was your sister that graduated? I saw the pictures on Facebook!"
Me: "Yeah... actually, that was me."
As I worked at the church, I met several other younger teens. We all ended up going on a fun outing together and to get to know me, they played a question game.
Guy: "What grade are you in?"
Me: "I actually graduated this year. I turn eighteen in a few days."
Guy: "What? I thought you were like, grade eight or something."
Not to say that I don't enjoy how short I am. I would hate to tower over everyone and not be able to simply observe. I never cease to find new amusement in people's reactions.
And not everyone mistakes me for being younger. My little sister, who's nine years younger, and I went to a Cirque Du Soleil show a few months back. While we stood in the bathroom lineup at intermission, a girl turned around and asked:
"Oh, is this your daughter?"
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