Johnny Phillips
English 101
Narration Essay Rough Draft
September 6, 2016
A Bible Belt Stereotype
Society has plenty of interpretations of how each civilian should act. I, however, do not fit the stereotype of someone living in the Bible Belt. I was raised in a home of predominately women, so I was taught to enjoy feminine activities more than masculine activities. Most of the boys from my school were country boys, meaning they were more masculine and wore cowboy boots with jeans compared to my shorts with moccasins. The constant degradation helped me to understand that humans don’t fit into society’s cliche of how people should act and people should embrace their differences.
Growing up in the small town of Lubbock, Texas, I was very susceptible to criticism. Racism, homophobia, and sexism- there are plenty of qualities that are often carped but those are a few. “Alright class, let’s take our seats,” Mrs. Reina’s voice sounded like a sort of soothing lullaby that a mother would sing to her sleeping child, “Let us take roll, shall we?” Anxiety began to spread throughout my entire body as quickly as the flu spreads among children at the playground. Mrs. Reina began calling out the names of my peers, “James,” After every name, we inched our way to my own. “Jenny,” I thought, “Here is comes.” Mrs. Reina looked directly at me as if she were Medusa attempting to turn me to stone, “and Johnny.” As the teacher called my name, there was a horde of laughter and cackling. I could hear homophobic slurs and insults, which Mrs. Reina acted like she couldn’t hear; we all knew that she could hear them.
The constant disparaging affected me severely. I dreaded the morning bus ride to school with the never-ending whispers of hatred behind me; I despised walking into the school and sitting in the small brown cafeteria waiting to be dismissed to class , more importantly, I loathed going to class. The classroom wasn’t the refuge I saw in TV or heard about from teachers promising me that it was a “safe place.” To me, the classroom was a battleground, and I was tiptoeing on a sensitive minefield that was ready to blow from the slightest touch. This situation caused me to have little to no confidence; it restrained me to reside in a constant state of fear and depression. I have never doubted my worth more than I did in this small town.
However, the move to Missoula, Montana had to have been the best event that has occurred in my life. “Johnny?” There was a voice of a tall man in nice clothing. “Do we have a Johnny Phillips?” The voice called once more. I thought silently to myself, “Oh no, here it comes.” I answered his call cautiously and waited patiently for laughter. There was nothing, the room was as still and quiet as someone fast asleep. The teacher, Mrs. Johnston, greeted me and continued on with taking roll. Once roll was completed, a young woman with short auburn hair, emerald green eyes, and a slightly upturned nose sat by me. She explained to me that the place was full of all types of people and cultures. “Just remember to be you,” the young woman whispered this before running off, smiling at me. Without me saying a single word, she knew that I must have a hard time, and she gave me kindness and comfort with her words.
This experience of kindness and generosity was ultimately new to me. I had never felt so included before that day. I never had friends, just constant bullies. That was the day that made my perspective of life shift rapidly. For the first time in my school life, I enjoyed going every day. I made friends with people that were of a wide variety of cultures. I could feel confidence blooming throughout me the way that apple blossoms bloom in the spring. I was finally happy with whom I was and whom I was growing to be.
My life will be forever changed; I have learned to grow as a person and to better myself. I am thriving in knowledge, kindness, friendship, and most importantly confidence. Believing in myself and my future has became such an easy characteristic for me now. Looking back onto how I used to feel, it is bittersweet. I would never ask to feel like that again, but my growing process is intriguing. Most people in life aren’t going to fit into society’s “norm,” and that is okay. I am different in my own unique way, and that is the beauty of the world.
English 101
Narration Essay Rough Draft
September 6, 2016
A Bible Belt Stereotype
Society has plenty of interpretations of how each civilian should act. I, however, do not fit the stereotype of someone living in the Bible Belt. I was raised in a home of predominately women, so I was taught to enjoy feminine activities more than masculine activities. Most of the boys from my school were country boys, meaning they were more masculine and wore cowboy boots with jeans compared to my shorts with moccasins. The constant degradation helped me to understand that humans don’t fit into society’s cliche of how people should act and people should embrace their differences.
Growing up in the small town of Lubbock, Texas, I was very susceptible to criticism. Racism, homophobia, and sexism- there are plenty of qualities that are often carped but those are a few. “Alright class, let’s take our seats,” Mrs. Reina’s voice sounded like a sort of soothing lullaby that a mother would sing to her sleeping child, “Let us take roll, shall we?” Anxiety began to spread throughout my entire body as quickly as the flu spreads among children at the playground. Mrs. Reina began calling out the names of my peers, “James,” After every name, we inched our way to my own. “Jenny,” I thought, “Here is comes.” Mrs. Reina looked directly at me as if she were Medusa attempting to turn me to stone, “and Johnny.” As the teacher called my name, there was a horde of laughter and cackling. I could hear homophobic slurs and insults, which Mrs. Reina acted like she couldn’t hear; we all knew that she could hear them.
The constant disparaging affected me severely. I dreaded the morning bus ride to school with the never-ending whispers of hatred behind me; I despised walking into the school and sitting in the small brown cafeteria waiting to be dismissed to class , more importantly, I loathed going to class. The classroom wasn’t the refuge I saw in TV or heard about from teachers promising me that it was a “safe place.” To me, the classroom was a battleground, and I was tiptoeing on a sensitive minefield that was ready to blow from the slightest touch. This situation caused me to have little to no confidence; it restrained me to reside in a constant state of fear and depression. I have never doubted my worth more than I did in this small town.
However, the move to Missoula, Montana had to have been the best event that has occurred in my life. “Johnny?” There was a voice of a tall man in nice clothing. “Do we have a Johnny Phillips?” The voice called once more. I thought silently to myself, “Oh no, here it comes.” I answered his call cautiously and waited patiently for laughter. There was nothing, the room was as still and quiet as someone fast asleep. The teacher, Mrs. Johnston, greeted me and continued on with taking roll. Once roll was completed, a young woman with short auburn hair, emerald green eyes, and a slightly upturned nose sat by me. She explained to me that the place was full of all types of people and cultures. “Just remember to be you,” the young woman whispered this before running off, smiling at me. Without me saying a single word, she knew that I must have a hard time, and she gave me kindness and comfort with her words.
This experience of kindness and generosity was ultimately new to me. I had never felt so included before that day. I never had friends, just constant bullies. That was the day that made my perspective of life shift rapidly. For the first time in my school life, I enjoyed going every day. I made friends with people that were of a wide variety of cultures. I could feel confidence blooming throughout me the way that apple blossoms bloom in the spring. I was finally happy with whom I was and whom I was growing to be.
My life will be forever changed; I have learned to grow as a person and to better myself. I am thriving in knowledge, kindness, friendship, and most importantly confidence. Believing in myself and my future has became such an easy characteristic for me now. Looking back onto how I used to feel, it is bittersweet. I would never ask to feel like that again, but my growing process is intriguing. Most people in life aren’t going to fit into society’s “norm,” and that is okay. I am different in my own unique way, and that is the beauty of the world.