Reply #2: Nowhere near the experience you had [View All]

[TlalocW]

I was the math/science/computer geek in a small farming community of under 2000 people in Kansas. I wasn't athletic until high school when I started lifting weights and actually went out for wrestling because it was something different to do. I also juggled and rode a unicycle, did not drink, and did not follow sports. Not being popular used to bug me quite a bit, and I was a crybaby when I was younger. When I got to high school, I started not caring what most people thought, got bigger from lifting (which probably helped me not get my ass kicked), and just gave myself over to my sense of humor (mocking, cynical sarcascm) which when properly used was enough to shut most people up - especially the braindead. In a way, I became an intellectual bully who made it known to the assholes that I would be blowing the curve on the test, and I mocked their pain. I didn't realize how powerful mocking sarcasm could be until my senior year in college when a friend of mine mentioned to me that the senators from student government were happy that I didn't show up at some sort of campaign meet and greet because they were afraid I was going to mock them all. :)

When I got to college, it was a breath of fresh air. The three "cool" kids from my class that also went to my college dropped out in the first two semesters, and I was pretty much free of my hometown except for visits when my best friends are back there for family holidays, etc. A lot of the "cool, popular" kids (as well as being snots) seem to have had trouble succeeding out in the real world and are now back in town having gotten married and are raising their brats and trying to "recapture a little bit of their glory years" as Springsteen might sing. High school in that small town was the best time of their lives, I guess, and they'll hold on to it for as long as they can. Our 10th year reunion was a few years ago, and I didn't get an invitation which tells me that I've successfully hidden myself from my former classmates.

As for me, I've got a good job as a computer programmer and make pretty good money on the side from the type of skills I was mocked for having as hobbies - juggling, unicycling, (and now) magic, and balloon twisting.

TlalocW