“STACIA”

This piece is based upon a Caucasian girl, age 17

Her main quote: I don’t hide behind anything.

Some of her other quotes:

• I’d have to say looks and stuff like that are the hardest part about being a teenager...at our school, for girls, it’s all about being skinny and, you know, and stuff like that.

• I think the girls have so many pressures, with, like, looks and certain stuff.  And we’re more emotional so that stuff kinda takes in easily.

• In terms of weight, for my athletics, I think I’m fine, but there’s, like, some parts I wish I could slim down on...but....yeah, that is another big issue with girls.   Girls and their hips, like, I know a lot of girls at our school complain about their hips—they keep on loosing weight to see if their hips will go down...

• Oh yes, I’ve been on diets...well, I do try...sometimes, it’s like, “I’m not going to eat chips for a month.” Yeah, right. 

• I’ve had a boyfriend for, like, almost three years...I’ve never had a problem with, like, what guys thought about me.  I don’t really care what they think, so I kinda got lucky with the one I have.  He doesn’t care.  He’s athletic and he’s really nice.

• For some girls, they just get a little frantic when they’re fighting with their boyfriend, or they’re all balling and it’s like, “Oh God!”  I don’t know.  I can’t remember what it’s like not to have a boyfriend...I think it does help self esteem, it just depends on who you are though, like, if I had a different personality, my self-esteem probably wouldn’t be very good.

• Not feeling beautiful is a problem with some girls, like, sometimes I even feel, like there are a lot of girls who are really really pretty—and sometimes when you’re around them you feel like, “Oh God.”

• I always have to wear at least foundation.  I have to wear make-up, I don’t know...

• Mostly you hear that God’s male.  I’m sure he has his feminine side in him, though.  I haven’t ever heard much about it, but I’m sure he does.

• I’m emotional and opinionated, really opinionated, but I, like, understand stuff...

• Who is the real me?  It’s kinda hard to say ‘cause everybody kinda knows me.  I’ve never thought about if someone didn’t know me what they would see in me.

• Just be happy with who you are.  It’s kinda within you.  I mean you can’t really help somebody from that, they just have to feel it themselves to get it in their mind that they’re beautiful in their own way.