by Jake Valpey
Embedded Files
published Fall 2018
I believe in not judging a book by its cover. I've worn glasses since third grade, and by doing so I've noticed that all though they help you see better, people often see you in a distinctive way. At the beginning of high school I noticed that strangers looked at me differently until they got to know me. Now I'm not trying to say that wearing glasses is the same has having a disability, when people act differently towards you; however, I've observed that when people first meet me they assume I'm somewhat of a nerd or a geek. On the contrary, I enjoy all kinds of activities from swimming to scuba diving; I find a great portion of people have a difficult time grasping that idea at first.
During a three week scuba diving program I attended, where I stayed on a boat with twelve other kids I really saw a change in what people thought of me and not just because I was being active. The first couple of days were somewhat awkward, of course, as kids were just getting to know each other and naturally judging each other by looks. Pretty soon everyone on the boat thought I was some sort of super smart student who loved books, when in truth I hadn't read a book in over a year. As the three weeks went on, however, these views people had of me started to change; in fact, by the end of the three weeks people had a whole new perspective on who I was as a person. I don't blame anyone; a tall slender guy with glasses is just what makes people think of a nerd. Although it can sometimes be a little irritating, I try to understand, because who doesn't fall guilty of judging books by their cover?
I encountered a variety of people during my summer program and it was hard not to make assumptions about them based on their covers: kids from Norway all the way to Australia. But the closest friend I made on the trip came from lowa, and she was the last person I thought l'd be friends with. Avery wasn't tall, but she wasn't short. She had very short hair above her shoulders, and she was very artsy. Just based on these few blunt facts I knew about her I didn't think we would be friends at all or have anything in common. But as the three weeks went on, my view changed we became closer and closer, finding interesting characteristics we had in common each day: for instance, I had no idea art was so interesting, and I also had no idea anyone could be so interested in New Hampshire life. That was really eye opening for me as I saw that there's so much more to people than their outside layer, and today I still consider Avery one my closest friends.
This also helped me understand where people were coming from when they viewed me. At times it can be very frustrating; however, there are some benefits. People are less intimidated by me, which some people might not like; on the contrary, I enjoy it because it allows me to talk to more people because I'm portrayed as a more open person. Of course I do receive nerd jokes from all sorts of people from my cousins to my gym teachers. I simply just take the jokes light heartedly as I know none of them truly mean it. In the end though even if in reality I am a nerd I'm okay with that title because I'm really happy at this point in my life.
So remember to take looks with a grain of salt, because it is what is inside that truly natters. I've learned that knowing a person by their looks is not knowing a person at all and who knows? No one knows their next friend just by looking at them. I believe in not judging books by their cover.
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