Day 2: write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot

My friend Liz and I met in our News Editing class a few years ago and she’s become a sort of campus mother to not only myself but also many in the journalism department. One day during the Fall 2014 semester she told me something no one had ever told me and I was flattered, thankful and taken aback.

“You do Goth beautifully.” She said. Her comment stemmed from seeing my Facebook posts about Halloween and my mother and I’s costumes for my favorite holiday. We switched personalities and many found it funny seeing as she is the Doris Day to my Wednesday Addams and we couldn’t be anymore different in the style department.

Ironically, one of the weekend radio programs Liz listened to had a segment that Sunday involving either Goth fashion/style or how Goth has evolved over the years. I’m not sure which it was but she told me she thought of me as she was listening and said she feels many people have a more loud or gaudy or even gimmicky approach to Goth style but, in her opinion, I do Goth beautifully.

This may seems small potatoes to people who grew up in a place where you could have the freedom of open expression and didn’t feel the pressure to fit in with everyone else. I’ve mentioned plenty of times the small town I was raised in and it’s hard to find your place when everyone dresses and acts the same. Being the person wondering down the hallways of a high school in all black when everyone is in pastel Hollister and highlights gets challenging. There is a thrill but it gets old being the only one brave enough not to dress as everyone else.

I had always hated the thought of being another brick in the wall.

It’s funny how such a simple statement can make you feel so great about yourself and relieved that at least someone else out there appreciates your sense of self.