Black Larva Research Paper

I was one of the tallest people in my grade, and was super skinny. With my mild Cerebral Palsy, I had speech problems for a long time. Due to all of this, I didn’t exactly fit in. Every day as I walked in the doors, I would completely shut down. My grades fell, and I blocked most of the world out. I could here the “popular” groups whispering and giggling every time I walked in the hall and notes would be passed around in class. I sat at a table in the corner by myself, I didn’t have any friends in

As teenagers, we’re all told in high school that “These are the best years of your life! Don’t waste them!” or something to that extent. Though in reality, high school is nothing more than a stress filled scramble to find your own identity or at the very least, one that will allow you to survive the next four years of hormones and midnight cram sessions. Some people find it unnaturally easy to find their clique, and others struggle to do so. I fall in with the latter category.

This idea is very prevalent in high school students now with the idea of conformity and trying to “fit in”. This book allows the adolescent reader to see that changing the way you act around others because of what they will think of you isn’t a way you should

Many young teens dream of being the “cool” kids in high school that walk the halls like they own the place, and they constantly have a reason to be talked about, but in reality, I’ve been able to learn that independence is the key to avoiding all unnecessary drama. Throughout the past two years, I have learned to become my own person not a replica of the typical highschool girl who cares about what everybody thinks. Torpid conformity was a kind of sin; it was stupidity itself.

Ever since third grade, I was different from the other kids in the classroom. The other kids always teased me and called me names like, “Nerd!”, and “Smarty-pants” because I was the youngest one in the grade. This torment continued to haunt me through all the schools that I went to. In school, I was anti-social because of my gap that separated me from my peers. This seemed like a barrier that I couldn’t face, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I wasn’t determined, or if I had great friends that helped me along the way.

I do not remember much from middle school; however I do recall having trouble fitting in and making friends. For the Central Bucks School District, seventh grade marks the beginning of middle school. My awkward 13-year-old self, with bright blue hair, was immersed in a pool of people at Holicong Middle School I had never met before. I had spent the past seven years with the same people and now they were mixed in with this monstrous crowd of new people, forcing me to make new friends. I was not a normal kid by society’s standards, and I still am a quirky kid, but at that point in my life I was still trying to figure out how to behave in a social setting. That was not a simple task for me; I was a hyperactive kid who dyed her hair a plethora of colors. To make matters worse, I was not mixed in with a pleasant group of people.

Once again I was the new kid in school, but this time I didn’t feel lost. People were friendly, the staff was extremely supportive, and I felt like I could be myself. One thing that didn't change though was the feeling that I was alone. Most people already had a close knit group of friends that was

My high school experiences have become imprinted into my memory and parts of me. I changed entirely from the first day I walked in as a freshmen to the last day I walked across the stage with my diploma. Not only do I look different but I act, think, and understand differently. I realize now that an individual’s character is largely constructed by other people’s opinions, unwritten rules, and a subliminal hierarchy. The reality of high school makes it difficult to escape the ideal image of a perfect student, friend, respectful significant other, and model child. With all these different forces pulling students back and forth, the primary goal is to be accepted; despite how much change one must undergo. From my high school experiences I know how to deal with labelling, peer pressure, alienation, and cliques. Thus my former high school social lessons and knowledge allow me to reshape my perception, values, and self-image to this day.

At this new school, NOBODY spoke to me, and I felt isolated. Being a confident person, as well as a social butterfly, I tried to insert myself into multiple groups of people, and I was continually shutdown; nobody would have me. This realization was genuinely shocking, I mean, I thought there would be at least 1 person! Not to be boastful, but I was relatively popular at my old school, so I had thought I’d be accepted. This ended up being humbling and for the best, in lack of a social aspect I resolved to focus more on my studies, and starting into grade twelve, I realized that I can do whatever I set my mind to (within realistic boundaries). This path required going back and redoing three years of coursework at the university level, because I had taken everything at the college level. Although this path may seem daunting and/or troublesome to many, it has never appeared that way to me, because I like to learn, and this was the only tunnel that had university at the end of

During my freshmen and sophomore years of high school I began to become frightened, high school was much tougher than middle school, the competition was troublesome, and certainly building new friendships had no time on my calendar. I didn’t fit in the teen society, and so I grew up to believe that I had excluded myself from that society and decided that my thoughts, intentions, circumstances, even goals were different from theirs.

Starting off my high school career at McAdory High School I was accustomed to not saying a word to anyone and avoiding people as much as possible. Although McAdory had excellent staff and teachers the same could not have been said about the student body. Struggling with shyness brought on by constant bullying, as well as problems elsewhere, I quickly fell through the cracks in an unmotivated state where I stopped caring about school and my grades. I was never able make friends, and would go straight home to play games as those were my escape. Struggling daily I fought to keep myself from breaking down, and instead of being destroyed by all of the bad that surrounded me I wanted to show everyone who had

I personally think a lot of people have a problem on where they belong in life and who they are. I for instance can relate. When I was in Junior High I had a problem fitting in and knowing who I was. I had friends, but I was not a part of the popular group, so I felt that I was no one special. I felt like I was an outcast, a very unique individual and just wanted to fit in with the cool kids. Unfortunately there is not a whole lot you can do at that age to fit in, because you are in that awkward puberty stage, but I could not realize that at the time. So right before my eighth grade year, I decided to try out for the cheerleading team, in hopes

High school is a harsh environment where not conforming to certain standards results in being socially out casted. As insecure students trapped in an institution plagued with ridicule, high school remains a void that sucks in those that are unsure of their identity, forcing the individual to conform to the majority. Typically after leaving high school people develop a sense of self and are able to recognize and create their own individuality. As an individual currently enrolled in secondary education I’ve seen the impact first hand. High school dictates what clothes you wear, the music you listen to, and who you can and cannot be friends with. The social hierarchy and the need to conform in these settings remain in place as the consequences of atypical behaviour are unfavourable, thus students conform. In some situations this conformity results in a lack of moral judgement as teens are pressured into what is considered cool or popular. As a result of lack of morals and need to fit in and be accepted students may start smoking, skipping school or doing drugs. Not only does this negatively impact grades but it also introduces the idea that these children are going need to conform for the rest of their life and will never have the opportunity to find their own unique identity. An example of the struggle associated with choosing between conforming and

Over the years, I have attended many different schools, and have met many new, interesting people. Due to this, I have had to adapt to many new environments in Pennsylvania, and Colorado. At first, I often struggled with fitting in, while continuing to maintain my unique identity. However, practice makes perfect, and through the years, I have realized that all you need to do “fit in” is be yourself. This realization has given me much confidence in tackling problems that have arisen during my life, and has instilled the belief in me that anything is possible.

My last year of middle school, (gosh) I detest that year with zeal. That was the year I realized most people including myself are just shams. We try to blend in to the idea of if “That’s strange “then with all the power in you avoid it, but turn out most of the “strange” stuff is priceless. So going back to 8th grade the grotesque prison like walls of the school held a far worse beast the cafeteria. There I would switch friend groups five times. Until I found some people I relish company with. These events full of back stabbing drama made me realize why fit in the status quote because if you are not meant to fit in than how are you living and how will you ever have that awfully big