Thursday, April 05, 2012

Teenagers, Stupidness, and Books (a.k.a. People put labels on readers that aren't even true, which bugs me so much)

Alright, so maybe you know that I am in my first year of High School (in Canada, it starts 2 years before the US, I think).


I really love High School, although I don't get to read as much in class because the teachers don't want you reading in their classes (I know, THE HORROR). I love that you have more projects and more teachers. But, there's a downside.


Books.


Most students in my class hate (*gasps*) books. Especially English books (because I'm French, and so are they). I don't know what made them hate books, or what made them hate English (that's probably the boring English classes they got in elementary school).


I don't really mind if they hate books, I mean, it's their own choice. I don't mind. Until they start laughing at me on how much I love books. I mean, seriously? I actually have a real passion. They label 'readers' as NERDS (well... I guess I am a TINY bit of a nerd, but not that much... jsut about books :D) and antisocial (now... really? I'm the most social person you can have. I talk to anyone (except some people I hate)). And, when I think about it, at the beginning of the year, I had some friends... and when they discovered I liked books, I never talked to them again. At least I had other good friends (and they are now my BFFs)


I usually loved talking about books. I mean, a teacher once asked what we'd buy if we'd have 100 million dollars. And I answered : A big house with a huge library filled with great books. And, you know what some people did? They laughed at me. Really? I mean, their answers were really STUPID (imagine a stupid and high-pitched bitchy voice): I'd buy myself clothes (really? Don't you already have enough?) and and buy candies and do other stupid teenager stuff (okay, that's not what they said, but close enough :D)


And then, they laugh at me because I read books. I mean, they don't come and laugh at my face when I'm reading, but whenever I'm going to say something they think will be about books, they snicker and laugh (by the way, the 'they' are about 6-7 people). 


I love reading books, talking about them whether it's on my blog or in real life. At least, my friends like it when I talk about books (well, maybe not like it, but they don't mind).


And so, I'm asking for YOUR advice : Should I stop saying anything about books at school altogether (which would be hard, since books are my life), or try and ignore them. By the way, telling someone is out of the way because, it'S not like bullying, and I don't feel like it would change. Also, I don't want the help of someone else (well, I just need advice from you guys).



8 comments:

  1. I know exactly how you feel. I’m 20 years old. I was born in the Dominican Republic and I lived there until I was 15 years old. I used to love reading when I lived there. The problem was that I could never get my hands on big books. I always ended up reading short stories, or children’s books. My friends used to think that I was crazy, because I liked reading. I never actually found a friend who liked to read as much as I did. When I moved to the United States I was 15 years old, my whole world changed. I could find many stores where I could buy all the books I wanted, and they also have libraries with lots of books!! I felt like a kid in a candy store lol. I also found friends who love to read as much as I do. I do have friends that don’t read as much as I do, but they don’t mind me talking about books all the time. Seriously I love books; they know that books are a big part of my life.

    I still have my old friends from Dominican Republic, and now they think I’m even crazier because now I read big books. I learned to accept that I can’t change them. They see things the way they do because no one ever showed them something different. My family told me to love books and to want to learn things. I don’t think you should stop being who you are just because they don’t like it. Your real friends will love you no matter what. You just have to ignore them. And if you think about it, it is their lost. I too will buy a house with a big library if I have money.

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    1. I have a friend who loves to read in English like me, although she keeps her mouth shut about. :S

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  2. Hey Cathee!!

    I started high school when I was 13 (I was a year ahead of everyone else) so I'm not exactly sure how old you are but you sound older than 12. Anyway.. to get to the point, teenagers are cruel and I'm sorry you're going through this.

    I'm 24 now but I used to get picked on and laughed at for things in school as well. I ended up dropping out and getting my GED (Which is the equivalent of a high school diploma) when I was 16 and started college. I would NOT recommend doing this however. High school is just a couple years of your life and once it's over, you don't have to see these people again. I would not advise giving up what you are passionate about just because they laugh. Reading is knowledge and knowledge is power. My guess? You'll be their boss someday and they probably know it!

    I would say continue to talk about books, your love of books, and anything else you want. For all of those who make fun of you and laugh.. there will be someone that you might get interested in reading and trust me, that will make it ALL worth it because in a few years.. you won't even remember the kids that were laughing.

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    1. You're right :D Although... I just hope they'll shut up!

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    2. You are totally right! in a few years you will not see this people again. I see my old friends from high school because we always been very close. One day this people is going to work for you, and you won't remember this things.

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  3. 98% of what high schoolers say is born out of insecurity. They don't know what they want out of life yet and it's a lot easier to be "interested" in things that are shallow (clothes, hairstyles, candy) than to explore who you really are inside and connect with it in a meaningful way.

    A good friend once told me about circles. We have circles in our lives of friends and family and other relationships. The people you go to school with are in your outermost circle. You wouldn't necessarily get up in front of the class and tell everyone your greatest fears or how you felt lost when something really bad happened in your life, and that's ok.

    Then you have your next circle. People you know pretty well - maybe you all sit at the same lunch table or go to the movies together. You might be able to be more of "you" around them and it would still be ok.

    Then there's your inner cirlce - Your family is probably in this circle, along with maybe two or three friends in the whole world who really get to know you in a deep way. These are the people you wouldn't mind being vulnerable with.

    Lastly there's your best friend. She (or he) is the one person in the world you can completely be yourself around. They get to know you the best. It's a trust that is earned between two people who've put in the hours getting to know one another and going through life's ups and downs and still remaining friends.

    I always try to spend more time with people who make me feel energized and less time with people who make me feel drained. Don't give the people that don't matter the best of you.

    You have an amazing heart and mind, and most of those people that laugh at you are just looking for someone else to throw the spotlight on because they don't want anyone looking at or laughing at them. They deserve your pity but little else. Ignore them.

    You have found something that enriches your life and makes you feel alive. Most people search their whole lives for such a passion! Don't apologize for how you're made, but if they can't understand, move on and share your passion with those friends who can and do understand.

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  4. Just ignore them. I live in Ireland and am 14 and there are roughly 3 people in my class who would read more than 1 book a month or less and they're great but everyone else is like "You mustn't have a life coz you read so much" and that pisses me off because although I'm not the most likely to go out and socialise or whatever because I prefer to be on my own or with a few select people but that is for other reasons that were caused by people like them. Once I was on a trip with my former class and to get away from them to read in peace I had to sit in the shower! Not too fun... I'm just glad they never realised where I was and turned on the shower, they would have ruined my book. You just have to live with people like that who don't realise what they're missing!! Try looking up the author John Green's nerdfighters!! It's a bunch of people just like us!!

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  5. Never let anyone tell you how you should live your life. Do what makes you happy always (as long as it's not hurting anyone lol). But seriously. Life is too short to worry about what others think. Don't waste time caring about other people's opinions.

    I remember feeling this way you described in high school too, but I'm 22 now and I haven't seen anyone from high school in awhile. In fact I don't even think about anyone from high school with the exception of the few people I stayed in touch with. It's all just a distant memory. Some people still ask me why I read a lot, but I tell them either 1.I want to be an author so it is my "research" or 2. I like reading and if you can't handle the fact that I read then that's your problem. I figure the people who are so critical of my reading really just feel stupid or insecure that maybe I know more than they do since readers are stereotyped as brainy...so it's actually a compliment. Finally, try to remember that reading is knowledge and knowledge is power. You're setting yourself up for a bright future. While they're rotting their brains with video games. Basically what I'm trying to say is there is nothing wrong with reading! =)

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