Lesson 19) "Blame It On The POP!"

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I will be the first to admit that there were times in high school that I cared what other people thought about me: It was terrible to have a bad hair day. I was scared that my makeup wasn't on right. I hid from the embarrassment of being dropped off in the morning.
Senior year, things began to change.
I was the drum major of my high schools marching band (band geeks will rule the world one day- be nice to the ones you know). With the captain of the band, we made a real effort to make the band "cool" to the senior class, and it worked out rather nicely. It was a huge success, and I'm still proud. But other than that one social correction, I fear a lot of me fell to "normal" standards.

Yeah, thank God that's over. I didn't really realize the tremendous change in myself brought on by my current college-ness until this afternoon. I knew something awesome was going on. Life is busy, but good. If there weren't challenges, we'd be bored, right? But I didn't know quite what it was.

I was walking to the convenience store to change my dollar into quarters (it's laundry day) and I had my iPod turned to a rather jazzed song (United States of Pop 2009, incase you wanna get your groove on). I was feeling the beat and actually dancing on my way... yeah, like hips swaying and arm movements. There was a couple out running I saw and they looked at me. I had the thought that it was super cute for them to be out running together before I realized they were kinda staring at me. Oh- that dance wasn't just in my head? I'd been doing that on the outside?
Whatever. *sliiide, step, jam, step, BOP!*
Wait- WHAT?
When had I become okay with this? I had been doing this (walking to class with my iPod) for a while, hadn't I? Where was the fear that someone would see me? Where was the worry that someone I knew would give me a funny look? Where was the panic that should be setting in that I know for a FACT that kid over there is in my American Lit class???

Oh, I guess I grew up... or down, it doesn't really matter. Continuing to dance on my way back, I thought about all the new things I'd begun to do without realizing it. When I wake up really early for a class, sometimes I forget my makeup. I listen to country music only I like on my loud speakers. I've even -GASP- worn my gym clothes to lunch! Who IS this person, and where did she come from??
But how wonderful today was while I was outside. The sky was just turning orange as sunset began, and although I did have to wear a jacket, I was able to leave it open. My iPod shuffled to another good song- it was like God was asking me to make a fool of myself, and I gladly obliged.
Here at college, life is different. No one that saw me today will likely see me again, and if they do it will be in passing and they won't really remember me. If they do, well that won't matter too much either. We have to be ourselves at this point, because if you can't express yourself on a college campus, you'll be waisting your whole life being someone boringly average.

Here's my attitude these days: This is me. I hope you like her 'cause she's all I got.
I'm less stressed, less worried, and honestly I think I actually have much closer relationships because they see the real me 24/7.
Curl Girl dances in public... during the day... to the music on her headphones.
What do you do to let the world know who you are?

Curl Girl, out!

(PS- the symbol @ the top is a stick figure dancing)