Age

One thing that has bothered me since I was very small, is the fact that people treat you differently and judge you based on your age and not based on how mature, experienced and intelligent you are. It's reasonable for strangers to do this, for how are they supposed to know, but often enough the people who behave this way know you and should therefore know better.

I've gotten to the point in my life where I don't even want to tell people my age, because once they find out I'm only 16 they either think I'm stupid, immature, or think that I'm too young to hang out with - even if they liked me before they knew how old I was. And on the other side, when people find out I'm 16 and am in college, they assume I must be some super genius nerd and they treat me differently based on that. I don't want people to think I'm immature, or a genius, I want to be analyzed based on who I am and how I act, not based on an arbitrary date that I happened to be born on.

Why does age even matter as much as it does? There are certain limitations I see, for instance, I understand perfectly why the age of consent is 16, or even 18 in some states. I don't think that people under 16 should be having sex, no matter how mature they are. I also don't really like the idea of a 16 year old dating someone say, 26 or 27, but those are both pretty extreme examples. For a platonic relationship, why does it matter at all? When you're an adult it's acceptable to have friends with a several decade age difference, but why isn't it acceptable for teenagers to hang out with 20 somethings?

Age is a number, and in law it is used as an estimate for when people are physically and mentally ready to do things like drink, smoke, vote and have sex. But all of these things come at different times to different people. Some people may not be mature enough until they are in their mid 20s, and some may be mature enough in their teens.

I think the world would be a better place if people were judged at their level of thinking as opposed to their age. Unfortunately that's pretty much impossible.

That's how it goes.

Public Transportation and Mexican Food

Today I woke up, as I do most days. I finished watching the Godfather part II, which was fabulous. At the same time, I completed my art homework. After showering, eating and getting dressed, I went to wait for the bus.

Though I was running late for class, I stopped by Gibson's to buy a kneaded eraser, and ran into my cousin Jared. Seeing people I know at school always makes me happy, especially if it's people I like. Apparently he works at Gibson's, and no one bothered to inform me of this.

Eraser in hand, I set off to class, stopping to appreciate the lime green halls on the first floor of Gannon. I learned that my art teacher had a bone infection, and had to have her toe removed. We had a moment of silence for her toe, and then moved on. I enjoy that class very much, though I am far too shy to speak up in it.

Class got out an hour early, so I decided to catch a bus to Iris's instead of waiting to be picked up. On the bus a boy with headphones sat next to me. After a period he removed his headphones and our conversation went something like this
Headphones Boy: "Are you alright?"
Me: "Ah, what?"
Headphones Boy: "You look confused, or nervous or out of place or something"
Me: -Laughs awkwardly- "Oh, I always look like that"
Headphones Boy: "So I gather you go to LCC?"
Me: "Yup, I'm a freshman"
Headphones Boy: "What are you taking?"
Me: "Math, Art, Chemistry and... PE"
Headphones Boy: "There's a spider on your collar"
Me: -Brushes collar and looks at it nervously-
Headphones Boy: "I think it fell in"
Me: -looks under collar, rather distressed- "Well... it doesn't matter I guess" (by this point I'm slightly horrified)
Headphones Boy: "Haha, so what art are you taking"
Me: "102"
Headphones Boy: "Oh, I'm taking that.. for the second time"
Me: "Oh, neat.."

Well, the rest of the conversation wasn't too memorable, but it was an odd occurrence. For the rest of the day I was paranoid that there was a spider in my shirt.

I got off the bus, and headed to Iris's. Much to my distress, no one answered the door when I knocked, so I decided I had better head back to LCC in case they had gone there to get me.

Almost as soon as I had logged on in the computer lab, Iris showed up. We headed off to El Azteco and ate Mexican food! It was delicious.

Seeing as I'm staying in Lansing this weekend, Iris came over to hang out and we went to the park. Fun times were had, and over all I had a good day.

I've run out of steam, and don't feel like typing anymore.

That's how it goes.

Blogging

I think I've been thinking of blogs incorrectly. Here I was thinking I was a terrible blogger because I can never think of anything to write that would be interesting to anyone else, but I came to the realization that it doesn't matter if it's interesting to anyone else, I blog for myself.
So, if my posts are weird, or don't make sense, you just have to understand that this is me, doing it for me and for no other reason.
A blog is just a way of writing down your opinions, thoughts and feelings in such a way that other people can share the experience with you. The important thing is that you wrote it down, not that other people share it. For this reason, I have decided that I am going to start updating regularly, because I have wanted some time to get my thoughts down in a regular manner.
It will not be my journal, for there are lots of things that I would never put up where other's could read it, but it's the closest thing.
Wish me luck!

That's how it goes.

Life is Alright

It's been almost a year since I last posted on this blog. I'm afraid that I'm a terrible blogger, I never know what to write about, and forget to update. I'm no good at thinking of profound things to write, so instead I'll write about myself.

I'm writing right now, because I am content. I think it is a good time to write, as opposed to when I am happy or sad.

Now, I realize that the only people who are going to read this are people who I link to it, so I should base my posts around the intended audience.

Lets see, since last year many things have happened. I went to Perry High school, joined the debate team and made some very nice friends in Perry. I turned 16, and then stopped going to Perry and (regrettably) stopped talking to my friends.

The custody battle is ongoing, and frustrates me to no end. I mean, can't we just get it over with? At this rate it won't get taken care of until I'm 18. I hate being treated like a child. I have to go to court again 3 weeks from today, and I'm sort of afraid, and very angry about it.

I live in Lansing now, on Hopkins street near the fire station. I'm taking 4 classes at LCC, and am happy to be doing something productive, even if it is hard. Soon I'll be working at El Azteco, which means I'll have money! And less free time..

Most of my time is spent alone in my room because I'm too anti-social to be able to make friends, and the ones I already have are usually busy.

At the moment I am not studying Chemistry, and thinking about going to the park, or at least going and doing something that's not sitting here. I probably won't though.

But, aside from boredom, I am alright. Life is alright, it could be better and it could be worse.

That's how it goes.