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September 28, 2006
Criss Cross: Finding the Truck Cab in Your Life
As adolescents, we all experienced those weird, awkward moments! You can't deny it!! What made you awkward as an adolescent? How did you get over those moments? And where was your safe haven or "truck" where everything seemed normal?
Posted by Natalie Senske at September 28, 2006 08:51 PM | Criss Cross
Comments
I think that I was just socially awkward throughout my middle school years. I would always find one person to hang out with, and then not really hang out with anyone else. I always was too self-conscious to go up to big groups of people and talk to them. After a while I realized that it is better to risk embarrassing yourself and approach people than being a loner. My safe haven was probably with my one best friend because I knew I could be myself.
Posted by: Cassandra Rice at October 2, 2006 12:02 AM
I was really tall when I was an adolescent. I went through a huge growth spurt in fifth grade then never grew again. I guess I made the best of it by playing sports and using my height to an advantage instead of trying to slouch over and be someone I wasn't. My safe haven was definitely at home where no matter how tall I was or how different I looked from other kids my age, my family loved me.
Posted by: Emily Haine at October 2, 2006 09:21 AM
Growing up could of probably been considered a nerd. My mom was a teacher and so I knew all of the teachers at my school pretty well. I felt prety comfortable around them, and really felt like I had a friendship with some of them. I also was blessed with big glasses and what some people called a "boy haircut". It took a while but I eventually got over this and gained some self-confidence. I would say that my "safe haven" was definatly my house. I feel totally relaxed when I am at home, and I don't feel like I need to please anyone or act a certain way. I'm surrounded by the people who mean the most to me.
Posted by: Anna Hoffman at October 2, 2006 01:32 PM
Adolescence was a very awkward time for me. I was extremely short in 8th grade, and then went through a growth spurt freshman year which made me very tired. My safe haven became art and reading. Retreating into the worlds of literature and painting gave my creative side a place to fourish. I would walk each day to our library, and took the train into the city to attend the Art Institute's classes for high school students.
Posted by: Mary F. Wright at October 2, 2006 01:38 PM
I suppose I was always self conscience about me as a person. There were times when I felt that I didn't fit in for many different reasons. I was involved with a lot of extra curriculur activities and I was invovled with church a lot so on different occasions I felt a little inept in various situations. I would say that my haven was within my peers in my activities because we could all relate.
Posted by: Matt Evensen at October 8, 2006 01:00 PM
I was an extremely awkward adolescent by "average" standards. I didn't wear the right clothes, didn't "do" the right things, and was very much content being off in my own little world. I liked school and reading and all those things that get you labeled "geek" or "dork" during that very sensitive time of life.
I got over all this by doing my very best to not care what others thought of me. And, as much as a human can, I feel I succeeded. I didn't change who I was for anybody but myself.
My "truck" was and still is my bedroom. It is where I hang out with my friends when we need privacy to talk. It is where I go to just be alone. It's my safe spot.
Posted by: Amanda Powers at October 8, 2006 04:02 PM
I was an akward child for sure. I wore tapered jeans when it was "supposed to be" flared, I had no designer ware, no make-up sense, and was completely oblivious to the fact that I was supposed to spend actual time figuring out "my look" in the mornings. Of course due to this I was never in the popular circle, and although I was physically under-developed in comparison to some of my peers, I learned to find safe haven within my true friends and family. The basement of my bestfriend Becca was similar to the truck in Criss Cross, for it was where we gathered to watch movies, listen to music and escape the outside world.
Posted by: Jayme Bennett at October 9, 2006 05:48 PM
Honestly, my akward moments almost always had to do with the size of my chest. I wore the same size bra as I do now... in 7th grade!!! To get over it I started wearing really bulky clothing and sweatshirts all of the time. When I made a new best friend in 11th grade she really changed me. She made me feel pretty, not trashy, when I started wearing clothes that showed my figure. I guess my safe haven in junior high was the bathroom. Especially at home. My parents were divorced and when I would go to my dad's I would spend literally HOURS in the bathroom. The door was locked and I didn't have to think of an excuse as to why it was locked. It just seemed logical to locke the bathroom door. I would take hour long showers and baths all of the time. My dad finally put a tv in the bathroom. I could have died and gone to heaven. The bathroom was my normal place to chill out. It still is. :o)
Posted by: Sarah at November 16, 2006 05:07 PM
Self confidence has been an issue in my adolescence stage as well. It is the growth stage so I think its normal. But this is the stage of creating confidence. As we join the world, we get to socialize with people and this is the time that we develop our self confidence.
Now that we're grown ups, we just laugh at how we were back then.
Posted by: creating confidence at May 23, 2007 12:17 PM
As a shy child, it was hard to socialize with people. Even in school, I just look at the kids who enjoy playing and sometimes get envious on them.
I started gaining confidence during high school. It was good to be able to speak yourself and do what you want or must do without hesitation. Though gaining confidence was not easy, it still pays off. By gaining confidence slowly, you get to learn a lot of things on the process. Like valuing yourself more and being positive-thinking.
Posted by: Gaining Confidence at June 19, 2007 04:32 PM
Awkward moments in my adolescent stage was that I was not good in conversations. I usually felt awkward not knowing how to respond or how to start a conversation. I can say that it is really difficult if you lack conversation skills when you grow older. It would be helpful if conversation skills are developed at a young age.
Conversation skills is helpful when you get to deal with other people. It helps you make friends, fix problems, and strengthen relationships. Conversations is where you get to clear out things with people, exchange information, or express your feelings or ideas.
Posted by: Conversation Skills at September 25, 2007 03:55 PM
I think adolescents should learn how to be more positive. Being positive all the time helps in getting motivated. With positive vibes, you would feel better with what you do.
The Sedona Method is also a good way if you want to get positive. It is very effective if you want to attain emotional wellness.
Posted by: sedona method at April 4, 2008 10:46 AM