-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
What was your childhood like?
- Thread starter rs7k
- Start date
- Status
Hmmm Ill bite, My childhood was fairly easy I was pretty much spoiled by my way older siblings and my mom was very caring and attentive my dad has always been distant (still too this day ) but he had it rough as a kid so I don't take it personally, The fact that I was spoiled did kinda mess me up for a while , Id ditch school I couldn't keep a job , wasn't very responsible , but I grew out of it at about 20-21 ....
That sounds shitty... One reason I started this thread is because I've had some form of anxiety for as long as I can remember. It's a daily thing, happens more than it doesn't, and it's starting to make my life a bit rough. I can definitely relate some of the problems I have now to things that happened in my childhood, especially in school. I didn't develop good social skills until late high school, and my social life, while it's pretty good now, took a very long time to develop, and I never thought I'd be where I'm at now. I feel there's still a lot of problems left, issues that I don't talk about in real-life simply because no one seems to understand the anxiety I go through to do something that should be very simple, like starting a conversation with someone other than my best friends. And it's not that I'm bad at it, it's just that every single time it happens, I get nervous and I tend to avoid situations like these.
I think it's time to go see a shrink about this, as I've always put it off. I'm not sure about meds because I don't know the long-term effects and I'd rather keep my brain natural, but if they are a good help, then it won't bother me too much. Any suggestions/experiences to share?
I think it's time to go see a shrink about this, as I've always put it off. I'm not sure about meds because I don't know the long-term effects and I'd rather keep my brain natural, but if they are a good help, then it won't bother me too much. Any suggestions/experiences to share?
I notice by your tag that your a weed smoker?? maybe? I used to smoke ALOT back in my teenage years (16-19) and I used to feel a lot of anxiety from social situations , walking from my car to work making the daily deposit at the bank , It was bad ....It seems like the minute I stopped smoking all that shit stopped....(Not an anti drug post) that's just what happened to me.rs7k said:
MrAngryFace
Banned
Lived in Tucson till I was 7ish I think. Chronic liar, spoiled. Parents divorced. Had to live with my now mormon dad and mormon stepmother in the middle of north dakota where everyone hated us. Then moved to Ohio where my stepmothers parents didnt like us and the people were jerks.
Moved back to Mesa AZ, second largest mormon land in the world. Lived there for a year or so. Got tired of being told what to do, moved to Texas with my mother. Were pretty much the same so we got along fine. Harassed by gang members in school so we moved to WA where I lived quite happily for 9 years I think i twas.
Moved to AZ, lived with a family that didnt want to live with me, WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE FIGURED OUT going by the results of the last time this was arranged. I made some good friends and met my girlfriend in AZ so thats a definite bonus.
Now im in WA again yay.
Hard life? Not really. Stressful yeah. I think moving in with my mother did wonders since we're both really independant. However being a family loner has made things tough between my "other" family.
Moved back to Mesa AZ, second largest mormon land in the world. Lived there for a year or so. Got tired of being told what to do, moved to Texas with my mother. Were pretty much the same so we got along fine. Harassed by gang members in school so we moved to WA where I lived quite happily for 9 years I think i twas.
Moved to AZ, lived with a family that didnt want to live with me, WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE FIGURED OUT going by the results of the last time this was arranged. I made some good friends and met my girlfriend in AZ so thats a definite bonus.
Now im in WA again yay.
Hard life? Not really. Stressful yeah. I think moving in with my mother did wonders since we're both really independant. However being a family loner has made things tough between my "other" family.
Ryck said:
It was WAY worse before I started smoking weed. Not saying the weed helped it, but in my case, they're probably unrelated. I'm stopping for four weeks since I don't like the memory deficits brought on by daily use. I need to work on moderation.
I will talk more about what specific issues bother me tomorrow, I really need to sleep. It's awesome other people are contributing to the thread, peace.
Comfort_Eagle
Banned
Nothing anyone would care to read about. seriously.
I was born in sri lanka, left for england at the age of 2, after 3 years there my family and I finally immigrated to Canada. Been here since (14 years and counting). I'm pretty spoiled also, parents pay for school, car, insurance, food etc. The vast majority of my friends belong to well off families. I was always a problematic kid, would drink/get high during high school (grew out of that), and did generally stupid shit when I was younger.
birth-5: apparently i was very cute and would talk/play with anyone. this was a handy trait to have seeing as my family moved a lot. i lived in china, hawaii, california, and finally moved to illinois. however, i was pretty sickly and had a lot of asthma problems which resulted in me getting pneumonia a lot.
5-10: my parents started to drag the family for a lot of trips at this point, which i hated then, but i love the fact that they did this now. went to a lot of national parks, went to about half the states in the us. visited my grandma every summer in hawaii, got a tan.
11-16: shit hit the fan here, and i went from respectable kid to rebel kid beginning a life of crime, bad punk music, and nightly fights with my parents. peaked when i was arrested for burglary and almost sent to jail for 6 months at the age of 16 (well it would've been juve but i assume it would still suck). looking back i realize i was a total piece of shit. part of me wants to apologize to the whole damn world, and another part of me is still mad.
17-present: reverted back to a "respectable" life, pulled my grades up, now a sophomore in college, which is pretty cool so far i guess.
overall my parents never really did much for me, which was one of the reasons that i think i went through a whole period of rebellion...well i probably would've done it anyway, but i think their parenting style kind of contributed to its extremity.
5-10: my parents started to drag the family for a lot of trips at this point, which i hated then, but i love the fact that they did this now. went to a lot of national parks, went to about half the states in the us. visited my grandma every summer in hawaii, got a tan.
11-16: shit hit the fan here, and i went from respectable kid to rebel kid beginning a life of crime, bad punk music, and nightly fights with my parents. peaked when i was arrested for burglary and almost sent to jail for 6 months at the age of 16 (well it would've been juve but i assume it would still suck). looking back i realize i was a total piece of shit. part of me wants to apologize to the whole damn world, and another part of me is still mad.
17-present: reverted back to a "respectable" life, pulled my grades up, now a sophomore in college, which is pretty cool so far i guess.
overall my parents never really did much for me, which was one of the reasons that i think i went through a whole period of rebellion...well i probably would've done it anyway, but i think their parenting style kind of contributed to its extremity.
Was diagnosed with severe hearing loss in my right ear when I was three years old, so I've lived with hearing aides for 21 years.
As a result, I was alienated by other children due to the 'weird machines' in my ears. I didn't have many friends until highschool.
It was just my Mom, sister and I for most of my life.
When I was 7 years old, my mom was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia, so I had to grow up pretty fast. I took care of my Mom and Sis as she suffered from the Cancer until I was 15 when she had her bone marrow transplant, causing the disease to go into remission.
I never really had anyone to talk to about my mom being sick and almost losing her on several occaisons so I acted out in several different ways; quiet and forlorn one moment, and then wild and crazy the next moment.
I got heavily into drugs and alcohol for a little while, but realized that I was only making Mom more sick with her worrying about me so I calmed down some.
College was where I got a lot of shit out of my system, being a bit of a hellion for a while.
Nowadays, I occaisionally drink and I'll smoke a fat bowl every now and then, but I'd say I'm pretty well balanced.
As a result, I was alienated by other children due to the 'weird machines' in my ears. I didn't have many friends until highschool.
It was just my Mom, sister and I for most of my life.
When I was 7 years old, my mom was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia, so I had to grow up pretty fast. I took care of my Mom and Sis as she suffered from the Cancer until I was 15 when she had her bone marrow transplant, causing the disease to go into remission.
I never really had anyone to talk to about my mom being sick and almost losing her on several occaisons so I acted out in several different ways; quiet and forlorn one moment, and then wild and crazy the next moment.
I got heavily into drugs and alcohol for a little while, but realized that I was only making Mom more sick with her worrying about me so I calmed down some.
College was where I got a lot of shit out of my system, being a bit of a hellion for a while.
Nowadays, I occaisionally drink and I'll smoke a fat bowl every now and then, but I'd say I'm pretty well balanced.
Dice
Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I was raised really poor, we had very little food, were always cold in the winter, whatever sterotypes of being poor. Dad had crappy jobs and anger issues, always yelled at us never hit us at least. I was almost homeschooled, I say almost because thatw as the idea but basically the only thing mom taught us was how to recognize ignorance and find the answers on our own. We moved around a lot until I was 10, I always got picked on as a kid probably because of this and being homeschooled.
From the age of 10 I stayed in my current house, made friends with the cool/leader kid on the block and through him made several other good friends, then when we started jr high all my friends moved away the same summer. I inherited anger/rage issues from my dad (and crappy life/getting picked on) earlier, but after I lost all my friends it turned into bitterness and I was closed off from everyone.
Durring my late freshman year of highschool I started living for Christ, everything about me became opposite of how it was, and in that I brought strength to my family. Things turned around job-wise for my dad and we did better overall. Parents got divorced last year but I ended up teaching my dad a few things about life and overall continue to be a leader in my family and life in general and help people find hope in their situations and live to a higher standard, though I encourage that to be in Christ but not all do.
From the age of 10 I stayed in my current house, made friends with the cool/leader kid on the block and through him made several other good friends, then when we started jr high all my friends moved away the same summer. I inherited anger/rage issues from my dad (and crappy life/getting picked on) earlier, but after I lost all my friends it turned into bitterness and I was closed off from everyone.
Durring my late freshman year of highschool I started living for Christ, everything about me became opposite of how it was, and in that I brought strength to my family. Things turned around job-wise for my dad and we did better overall. Parents got divorced last year but I ended up teaching my dad a few things about life and overall continue to be a leader in my family and life in general and help people find hope in their situations and live to a higher standard, though I encourage that to be in Christ but not all do.
School was normal. Social life was fairly normal, although I didn't have many friends. I always had about two really good friends, and a handful of other kids that were between friends and acquaintances. I was never really part of a "social circle", just had individual friendships for the most part.
My family was always a bit loony, although that didn't really really surface until junior high or highschool. Gradeschool and earlier childhood I consider the best days of my life. Mostly fond memories. Especially what I consider the "first phase" of my life, before we moved to the other side of our town when I was in second grade. I was really young at the time, yeah, but I still in a way, in the back of my mind consider it the "first half of my lfie". It was almost like an entirely different life, as a different person, with a different family (my first of two sisters was born a year before we moved). Sometimes I wish I could relive those days just for the hell of it, but how could I? I just miss the sheer innocence and lack of any responsibilities and accountability whatsoever, and being so goddamn easily amused. Ahh man, the days when I could have the best fun ever just building forts with my friends in our basements. You can never have that kind of fun again. At least, I don't think you can.
My family was always a bit loony, although that didn't really really surface until junior high or highschool. Gradeschool and earlier childhood I consider the best days of my life. Mostly fond memories. Especially what I consider the "first phase" of my life, before we moved to the other side of our town when I was in second grade. I was really young at the time, yeah, but I still in a way, in the back of my mind consider it the "first half of my lfie". It was almost like an entirely different life, as a different person, with a different family (my first of two sisters was born a year before we moved). Sometimes I wish I could relive those days just for the hell of it, but how could I? I just miss the sheer innocence and lack of any responsibilities and accountability whatsoever, and being so goddamn easily amused. Ahh man, the days when I could have the best fun ever just building forts with my friends in our basements. You can never have that kind of fun again. At least, I don't think you can.
Grew up into a ok family, but got picked on a lot when i was kid (from age 8-11). I didnt want more troubles so I tried (unsuccesfully to avoid fights). Then i totally went thru this transformation where I would get into fights with the toughest kids in the school that were much older than me without even thinking about it twice just because I was tired of all this shit. The harassement stopped. My anger eventually stopped. I also lost a few teeths 
In highschool, life was good, i hung out with the cool people while going to this private school for gifted students that was ran like a nazi concentration camp. If you didnt perform, teacher would own you in front of the class. Coming from a family that wasnt exactly rich at the time, and going to that private school wasnt without problems. The teachers were such bitches with us that there was a lot of tension between students, so take your average school factions wars and multiply it by ten. I mean, each clique had their spots, and if you werent in a clique, you were pure crap. People couldnt get into fights on school ground, or else you would get thrown out of school, unless your family was in good terms with the administration (and donation fund). So we had all to find a way to hurt each others, and it was with words. Everyone was so mean to each others, it was insane, even between clique, people were so on the defensive. It was an ownage festival all year long. It was a horrible climate. Totally horrible. I learned a few years after that one guy that used to be made fun of all the time eventually killed himself a year or so after highschool. Maybe 5 years of hate fucked him up hardcore. After my third year, I got owned in a math exam (actually I passed, but it wasnt up to the school's standards), so I got kicked out.
Went to a regular highschool, everything was fine there, since I hung out with people i knew since we were kids. Never got into fights, or problems. It was such a relief to leave the hellish climate of the other school. Dear god.
Then came college, and the rest is history.
Was it the same climate in your schools? I'm sure i was not alone in that situation.
In highschool, life was good, i hung out with the cool people while going to this private school for gifted students that was ran like a nazi concentration camp. If you didnt perform, teacher would own you in front of the class. Coming from a family that wasnt exactly rich at the time, and going to that private school wasnt without problems. The teachers were such bitches with us that there was a lot of tension between students, so take your average school factions wars and multiply it by ten. I mean, each clique had their spots, and if you werent in a clique, you were pure crap. People couldnt get into fights on school ground, or else you would get thrown out of school, unless your family was in good terms with the administration (and donation fund). So we had all to find a way to hurt each others, and it was with words. Everyone was so mean to each others, it was insane, even between clique, people were so on the defensive. It was an ownage festival all year long. It was a horrible climate. Totally horrible. I learned a few years after that one guy that used to be made fun of all the time eventually killed himself a year or so after highschool. Maybe 5 years of hate fucked him up hardcore. After my third year, I got owned in a math exam (actually I passed, but it wasnt up to the school's standards), so I got kicked out.
Went to a regular highschool, everything was fine there, since I hung out with people i knew since we were kids. Never got into fights, or problems. It was such a relief to leave the hellish climate of the other school. Dear god.
Then came college, and the rest is history.
Was it the same climate in your schools? I'm sure i was not alone in that situation.
I was largely raised in PA, although I bounced back and forth between the W-B/Scranton area of PA and Arlington, VA/Wash. DC several times before I was 12 or 13. I never stayed outside of PA for more than a year, and I pretty much consider myself from PA. I sort of blame the bouncing around during those early years on certain social issues I've had/still have.
I'm the youngest of three sons, and naturally spoiled. I was left alone a lot while my parents dealt with various, pressing problems my brothers had (cancer, disciplinary problems, etc). Left unsupervized, at around the age of 13 I started running with a bad crowd. I eventually became a somewhat heavy drug user, a habit I'm not entirely sure I'm over, though I haven't used any substances in an illicit way in a long time. Around the age of 15, my parents started paying attention to the myriad problems I'd developed, largely because of a benzodiazepine and morphine overdose I had during class in my Jesuit high school. At this point, I was having extreme anxiety problems, the source being both my nascent deviant sexuality and the hardline insanity of my day to day life.
I was put into a psychiatric ward after the overdose. Stayed there for 2 months before being transferred to a state mental hospital. My long journey through the psychiatric world starts here, and let's just say the roots of my current anti-psychiatrist bent are firmly planted in these years. In the 6 or so months I spent in the care of psychiatric wards/hospitals, I was put on myriad drugs and substances. I don't want to talk about this period anymore.
I couldn't go back to my old high school, so I went to a public one. More introverted than ever, I had difficulty making friends. Home life sucked. I was (rightfully) always the object of suspicion from my parents. My drug problems continued. In 1998 I was involved in an accidental case of arson. My friends and I were never caught, but in a bizarre way, signs of the incident have followed me to this very day. I think my obsession with art and decay starts on that night. A story for another day.
Anyway, 18, end of childhood, well. . .it was like the previous years, I guess. My best friend died in a horrible car accident, a fate I came very close to sharing a few years later. I love him to this day. I saw him the night it happened, and I still feel guilty. The day after the accident, I got to the hospital moments after he died. This event is mirrored a few years later -- I was 10 minutes late in getting to say goodbye to my father. I still see the silhouette of his body on that hospital bed in my living room every time I close my eyes. I just realized the other day I cannot remember what his voice sounded like before he had cancer. Sorry. . .that has nothing to do with my childhood, per se.
In many ways, I've never allowed myself to grow up. I've outgrown and overcome a few problems that hounded me in those years, but I don't think I ever really came of age. Every opportunity I've had to overcome the child in me, I've either pissed away or fallen victim to a familial tragedy.
Sorry, I ranted. But you asked for it, literally.
I'm the youngest of three sons, and naturally spoiled. I was left alone a lot while my parents dealt with various, pressing problems my brothers had (cancer, disciplinary problems, etc). Left unsupervized, at around the age of 13 I started running with a bad crowd. I eventually became a somewhat heavy drug user, a habit I'm not entirely sure I'm over, though I haven't used any substances in an illicit way in a long time. Around the age of 15, my parents started paying attention to the myriad problems I'd developed, largely because of a benzodiazepine and morphine overdose I had during class in my Jesuit high school. At this point, I was having extreme anxiety problems, the source being both my nascent deviant sexuality and the hardline insanity of my day to day life.
I was put into a psychiatric ward after the overdose. Stayed there for 2 months before being transferred to a state mental hospital. My long journey through the psychiatric world starts here, and let's just say the roots of my current anti-psychiatrist bent are firmly planted in these years. In the 6 or so months I spent in the care of psychiatric wards/hospitals, I was put on myriad drugs and substances. I don't want to talk about this period anymore.
I couldn't go back to my old high school, so I went to a public one. More introverted than ever, I had difficulty making friends. Home life sucked. I was (rightfully) always the object of suspicion from my parents. My drug problems continued. In 1998 I was involved in an accidental case of arson. My friends and I were never caught, but in a bizarre way, signs of the incident have followed me to this very day. I think my obsession with art and decay starts on that night. A story for another day.
Anyway, 18, end of childhood, well. . .it was like the previous years, I guess. My best friend died in a horrible car accident, a fate I came very close to sharing a few years later. I love him to this day. I saw him the night it happened, and I still feel guilty. The day after the accident, I got to the hospital moments after he died. This event is mirrored a few years later -- I was 10 minutes late in getting to say goodbye to my father. I still see the silhouette of his body on that hospital bed in my living room every time I close my eyes. I just realized the other day I cannot remember what his voice sounded like before he had cancer. Sorry. . .that has nothing to do with my childhood, per se.
In many ways, I've never allowed myself to grow up. I've outgrown and overcome a few problems that hounded me in those years, but I don't think I ever really came of age. Every opportunity I've had to overcome the child in me, I've either pissed away or fallen victim to a familial tragedy.
Sorry, I ranted. But you asked for it, literally.
Man.. reading some of your guy's post is depressing...
I grew up pretty poor, and in a really bad neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Drive bys almost every week, druggies all over the place.
Was there until about 8 years old, then moved the suberbs of Vancouver, Washington. Which was really wierd cause, growing up all I saw were ethnic groups and very few white people. Then all of sudden everyone was white, and made me feel really out of place (since I am asian). Even though being the ignorant little kid I was, I never really thought of myself being different, and my two best friends didn't realize it either. Actually.. to come to think of it, up until like 5th or 6th grade, we didn't realize I was asian and they weren't. Ignorant is bliss...
Then middle school I went through the whole "Azn Pryde" BS, for like a year, until I realized i'm as white-washed as they come. Then all of middle school and high school, I was pretty much an outcast from the other asian kids, er I mean, Azn kidzzzzz. But I got along with everyone else, so my life was pretty good, other than going through the normal asian parent crap. If you have asian parents.. you know what I mean. Like not being able to drive when I turned 16, or being over-pressured to do good in school. But then again, i'm the youngest in my family, so I got away with a lot of crap. Even though I never fully took advantage of it, since I never was into going to parties or many social functions, other than watching my friend's band play or going to shows.
And now to come to think of it... I wonder what I would have turned out like if I stayed in Portland, I'd probably a wanna-be gangster and only hang out with asian people.. how sad that would be...
I grew up pretty poor, and in a really bad neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Drive bys almost every week, druggies all over the place.
Was there until about 8 years old, then moved the suberbs of Vancouver, Washington. Which was really wierd cause, growing up all I saw were ethnic groups and very few white people. Then all of sudden everyone was white, and made me feel really out of place (since I am asian). Even though being the ignorant little kid I was, I never really thought of myself being different, and my two best friends didn't realize it either. Actually.. to come to think of it, up until like 5th or 6th grade, we didn't realize I was asian and they weren't. Ignorant is bliss...
Then middle school I went through the whole "Azn Pryde" BS, for like a year, until I realized i'm as white-washed as they come. Then all of middle school and high school, I was pretty much an outcast from the other asian kids, er I mean, Azn kidzzzzz. But I got along with everyone else, so my life was pretty good, other than going through the normal asian parent crap. If you have asian parents.. you know what I mean. Like not being able to drive when I turned 16, or being over-pressured to do good in school. But then again, i'm the youngest in my family, so I got away with a lot of crap. Even though I never fully took advantage of it, since I never was into going to parties or many social functions, other than watching my friend's band play or going to shows.
And now to come to think of it... I wonder what I would have turned out like if I stayed in Portland, I'd probably a wanna-be gangster and only hang out with asian people.. how sad that would be...
I did okay, for growing up IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER.
Seriously, poor childhood, stealing power from city streetlights with extension cords, hand-me-down clothes, etc. But we were happy. Hard not to be - we weren't abused or treated badly in any way. We just didn't have what most people did. I've always been mechanically brainy, taking apart my toys and putting them back together. Firmly in the weird camp by 7 or so - everybody else into GI Joe/Transformers, I'm into how to disable somebody by using pressure points on their body. Went full-out nerd by junior high, but was smarter than the other nerds so I was mildly popular. Started to see myself as an outsider because I never met anyone like me. I still maintain that image, even though the internet is full of people just like me.
Seriously, poor childhood, stealing power from city streetlights with extension cords, hand-me-down clothes, etc. But we were happy. Hard not to be - we weren't abused or treated badly in any way. We just didn't have what most people did. I've always been mechanically brainy, taking apart my toys and putting them back together. Firmly in the weird camp by 7 or so - everybody else into GI Joe/Transformers, I'm into how to disable somebody by using pressure points on their body. Went full-out nerd by junior high, but was smarter than the other nerds so I was mildly popular. Started to see myself as an outsider because I never met anyone like me. I still maintain that image, even though the internet is full of people just like me.
enjoy bell woods
Banned
At least you had your IRC buddies from 16-19, right?Raxel said:
DaCocoBrova
Finally bought a new PSP, but then pushed the demon onto someone else. Jesus.
Skellies
Stick Ball
Hand ball
Touch Football
Grafitti/Writing/Bombing
Watched crack come out of nowhere and ravage my neighborhood
Stick Ball
Hand ball
Touch Football
Grafitti/Writing/Bombing
Watched crack come out of nowhere and ravage my neighborhood
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
mac said:
Same here, I was like the only black kid in Cleveland Heights. Everyone was really nice, but I just felt alone sometimes. Luckily the High School I went to in Austin, TX was very mixed. I enjoyed that a lot more. I can't believe I was actually saying "radical" when I was a kid. The shame...the shame...
My childhood was normal enough. I was on safety crossing guard patrol, did home schooling for 3 years, went to high school and was Vice President of the Physics Club, Historian of Astronomy Club, and a member of the Texas Association of Minority Engineers. So I was basically a nerd, but everyone at magnet high school is a nerd, so I was pretty normal. Only sports I played in high school were lacrosse and a little track. I stopped playing basketball in 5th grade, but I loved being on the team back then. Nobody cared about lacrosse though, so it kinda took the coolness out of it. We lost every game except 2.
My early childhood is pretty boring. Things didn't get fun until high school, with all it's drama.
Probably the thing which sticks out the most about my childhood is that I was pegged as freakishly bright at a VERY early age. I was reading at a fifth-grade level by the time I entered kindergarten, and blasted through every math book they gave me...that raised their suspicions. They put me through a lot of tests, shook their heats at the results, and gave me some unique opportunities that I might not have otherwise enjoyed...even though it was "just" a public school.
Instead of 3rd grade math, they sat me in front of an Apple IIe running LOGO and told me to come up with programs. Since I had already mastered cursive a year early, a teacher bought me a calligraphy set and a textbook and I learned how to do that instead. My art teachers let me experiment with painting and drawing, although that will never be one of my strongest skills. I was in the honor chorus, and the lead in our 5th grade class musical...which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, if you can believe that. In 6th grade, they let me start up a school newspaper in junior high. In 7th grade, I got to take the SAT as part of a Johns Hopkins-sponsored national talent search. By the end of 8th grade, I had already finished trig.
High school was more interesting, but I'm too lazy to write about it. My biggest regret is that I was HOT, and I had no clue at the time. It's too late for me now, but dammit people...don't waste your young and handsome days being anything but young and handsome.
Instead of 3rd grade math, they sat me in front of an Apple IIe running LOGO and told me to come up with programs. Since I had already mastered cursive a year early, a teacher bought me a calligraphy set and a textbook and I learned how to do that instead. My art teachers let me experiment with painting and drawing, although that will never be one of my strongest skills. I was in the honor chorus, and the lead in our 5th grade class musical...which was a mandatory part of the curriculum, if you can believe that. In 6th grade, they let me start up a school newspaper in junior high. In 7th grade, I got to take the SAT as part of a Johns Hopkins-sponsored national talent search. By the end of 8th grade, I had already finished trig.
High school was more interesting, but I'm too lazy to write about it. My biggest regret is that I was HOT, and I had no clue at the time. It's too late for me now, but dammit people...don't waste your young and handsome days being anything but young and handsome.
Doom_Bringer
Banned
my childhood was terrible, shit school, shit teachers, shit classmates etc
Only child so I guess I was kinda spoiled compared to other kids with brothers and sisters, I didn't get everything I wanted though! In primary school I was pretty happy and was pretty much friends with everyone, was outgoing, never got into trouble etc. Good times, good times.
In high school I didn't have as much friends as I did in primary school because I became really shy around people and was probably seen as a "geek" since I was so quiet, didn't get into trouble and got good grades. When I see people from high school around now they're really surprised at how different I am now and people who didn't talk to me in high school are always coming up and talking to me in bars and clubs, which is kind of annoying since if they didn't want to know me then why should they bother now? Meh, I still humour them and a few of them even have my phone number. Anyway, I'd say I was happier before high school, slumped a good bit in high school (I wasn't "out" at this point either so it was depressing me having to keep quiet and not tell anyone about it) but then I started Uni last year and life has been pretty much awesome since then. Go team!
In primary school I was pretty happy and was pretty much friends with everyone, was outgoing, never got into trouble etc. Good times, good times. In high school I didn't have as much friends as I did in primary school because I became really shy around people and was probably seen as a "geek" since I was so quiet, didn't get into trouble and got good grades. When I see people from high school around now they're really surprised at how different I am now and people who didn't talk to me in high school are always coming up and talking to me in bars and clubs, which is kind of annoying since if they didn't want to know me then why should they bother now? Meh, I still humour them and a few of them even have my phone number. Anyway, I'd say I was happier before high school, slumped a good bit in high school (I wasn't "out" at this point either so it was depressing me having to keep quiet and not tell anyone about it) but then I started Uni last year and life has been pretty much awesome since then. Go team!
-jinx- said:
Hey, no fair-- you beat me by a year.
I was reading at mid fifth-grade level at the start of first-grade, which is when they administered a pilot district-wide reading test to my "gifted" class. I reserve the right to believe that I was reading at that same level in kindergarten, since I was never tested specifically for reading prior to the first grade (except for IQ tests, of course, which were required to get into these programs). As for my childhood, well, beyond academics/intelligence (like -jinx-, I could tell you stories that'd make you shake your head), I had possibly the greatest childhood anyone ever had. I have a tremendously loving family, both immediate and extended; my sister and I would sleep over my grandparents' house every weekend. I live in a quiet, cozy neighborhood where crime is practically nonexistant (save for car thefts). I went to elementary school 2 blocks from my home, and from second grade on, we had the same group of kids in our class every year, so I really formed lasting friendships with "the gang" (my mother had taken me out of the gifted program after first-grade, since they wanted me to skip 2 grades, but she didn't think it was the right decision developmentally; there were also some safety issues at the school that had the program, which wasn't in my neighborhood). I was very popular in elementary school, both among students and teachers (for obvious reasons-- my second-grade teacher used to leave the room to get coffee and had me teach the kids math, believe it or not; this helped our relationship
). We used to have plays, musicals, and other productions every year which were always great fun. Quite honestly, I wouldn't change a DAMN thing about my childhood (pre-HS, that is). I have been very blessed to have what I have and to be surrounded by the family and friends that I was and am. I guess you could say that I had the "typical American apple pie" childhood-- something you'd see on some corny, cloying sitcom or something.
My father wasn't around as much as I would have liked early on (working 85+ hours/week will do that for you), but by the time I turned 8 or so, he was very involved with me on the weekends, coaching my sports teams and the like. Still, there was always subconscious resentment there over feeling abandoned by him, and there likely still is-- I think it's one of the reasons that I don't get along with him as well as I should, though that's gotten immeasurably better as I've gotten older. My mother says that when I was almost 2 years old, I was on the bed with them one morning, playing, and my father had to go to work. I started crying and told him to stay; he said "it's ok Christopher, daddy will bring you home a toy tonight". I said to him, "but I don't want a toy daddy, I want you". So...yeah. I guess I just harbored a lot of that sort of sentiment during my childhood, though it largely wasn't conscious-- I always loved my father.Still, I can distinctly recall being 6-9 years old and wanting to seriously hurt my father emotionally. Maliciously. He used to take us on these vacations and trips and stuff (which were always modest, as we didn't have lots of money, though we were not "poor", per se; I've only been on a plane twice, and only once with my family, to give you an idea of the sort of "vacations" we'd take
), and I can vividly recall purposely belittling the accommodations at whatever hotel/motel we were staying at, or putting down the entire trip, in order to make him feel bad. I would see his face sink and it would make me feel good somehow to hurt him in such a way. That's pretty crazy, no? Looking back on it when I got older, I realized how cruel and wrong that was; it was the oddest thing, too, because I wasn't like that as a child at ALL to anyone else, nor even to my father most of the time (consciously, at least). Weird. But now that I have perspective, and after my mother had filled me in on my childhood a bit more, I put the pieces together and realized why I must have behaved in that fashion.As an adult, I've come to love and respect my father all the more-- he's truly a Christian man who would do anything for anyone. He's a tireless provider, and incredibly generous with his money (what little he has), time, and love (though he's far from affectionate). I can honestly say that if I had to pick one man to be like for the rest of my life, it'd be my father or my grandfather (who's an incredibly special person).
My mother and I were also very close, since she was home with me until she started working when I was 12-13. She says we'd go for long walks every day, for literally miles and miles. She was always playing intellectually stimulating games with me, or reading to me, or using flash cards-- she really went the extra mile. She says it was because I was always very curious and eager to learn, but I feel that she doesn't give herself enough credit sometimes.
My sister, conversely, pretty much sat there like a bump on a log according to my mother, until she got to the first grade. I credit my mother with much of my intellectual aptitude; the rest of the credit goes to my father and his genes, because he's one of the most intelligent men I've ever met. In sum, my childhood was just incredible. I honestly pray at night that every child should have that same sort of upbringing-- not only in terms of my parents, but the friendships and the community (which was very tight-knit) as well. I sincerely desire to see all children have what I had and more. HAH, you wanna know how good my childhood was? I was chronically sick with asthma and allergies from ages 3-10, was in the hospital with an asthma attack every other week, had to get a dozen allergy shots every week, and almost died a few times....and I didn't even think about it when discussing my childhood. THAT'S how good the good parts were. Really, I've just been incredibly blessed. I can't say enough about my family, friends, and all the people I've known along the way.
Now once high school came, things just went TOTALLY downhill in my life lol. I guess it was too good to last.
All good things must come to an end, they say. my childhood was awesome. I've got such cool memories of all the times I had with my family and friends. I wasn't spoiled or anything, but I certainly had everything I needed. my folks were loving and attentive and always did their very best for me. I'm so very thankful for all of that. school was not always a good place for me, had some difficulties there, but in time things were fine there also.
evil solrac v3.0
Member
Loki said:Hey, no fair-- you beat me by a year.
As for my childhood, well, beyond academics/intelligence (like -jinx-, I could tell you stories that'd make you shake your head), I had possibly the greatest childhood anyone ever had. I have a tremendously loving family, both immediate and extended; my sister and I would sleep over my grandparents' house every weekend. I live in a quiet, cozy neighborhood where crime is practically nonexistant (save for car thefts). I went to elementary school 2 blocks from my home, and from second grade on, we had the same group of kids in our class every year, so I really formed lasting friendships with "the gang" (my mother had taken me out of the gifted program after first-grade, since they wanted me to skip 2 grades, but she didn't think it was the right decision developmentally; there were also some safety issues at the school that had the program, which wasn't in my neighborhood). I was very popular in elementary school, both among students and teachers (for obvious reasons-- my second-grade teacher used to leave the room to get coffee and had me teach the kids math, believe it or not; this helped our relationship
Quite honestly, I wouldn't change a DAMN thing about my childhood (pre-HS, that is). I have been very blessed to have what I have and to be surrounded by the family and friends that I was and am. I guess you could say that I had the "typical American apple pie" childhood-- something you'd see on some corny, cloying sitcom or something.
Still, I can distinctly recall being 6-9 years old and wanting to seriously hurt my father emotionally. Maliciously. He used to take us on these vacations and trips and stuff (which were always modest, as we didn't have lots of money, though we were not "poor", per se), and I can vividly recall purposely belittling the accomodations at whatever hotel/motel we were staying at, or putting down the entire trip, in order to make him feel bad. I would see his face sink and it would make me feel good somehow to hurt him in such a way. That's pretty crazy, no? Looking back on it when I got older, I realized how cruel and wrong that was; it was the oddest thing, too, because I wasn't like that as a child at ALL to anyone else, nor even to my father most of the time (consciously, at least). Weird. But now that I have perspective, and after my mother had filled me in on my childhood a bit more, I put the pieces together and realized why I must have behaved in that fashion.
As an adult, I've come to love and respect my father all the more-- he's truly a Christian man who would do anything for anyone. He's a tireless provider, and incredibly generous with his money (what little he has), time, and love (though he's far from affectionate). I can honestly say that if I had to pick one man to be like for the rest of my life, it'd be my father or my grandfather (who's an incredibly special person).
My mother and I were also very close, since she was home with me until she started working when I was 12-13. She says we'd go for long walks every day, for literally miles and miles. She was always playing intellectually stimulating games with me, or reading to me, or using flash cards-- she really went the extra mile. She says it was because I was always very curious and eager to learn, but I feel that she doesn't give herself enough credit sometimes.
In sum, my childhood was just incredible. I honestly pray at night that every child should have that same sort of upbringing-- not only in terms of my parents, but the friendships and the community (which was very tight-knit) as well. I sincerely desire to see all children have what I had and more. HAH, you wanna know how good my childhood was? I was chronically sick with asthma and allergies from ages 3-10, was in the hospital with an asthma attack every other week, had to get a dozen allergy shots every week, and almost died a few times....and I didn't even think about it when discussing my childhood. THAT'S how good the good parts were. Really, I've just been incredibly blessed. I can't say enough about my family, friends, and all the people I've known along the way.
Now once high school came, things just went TOTALLY downhill in my life lol. I guess it was too good to last.
throw a little sex in there to spice things up for god's sake!!!! you wanna bore me to tears!?!?
*ahem* anyways, i'd tell my life story except it's too complicated. here's the gist. parents never married, still had a happy childhood, emigrated to the U.S (with mother only)........ aah, that's it. im not saying anything else.
Great childhood, great parents. I did have trouble when after I turned 10, I moved 5 times in 7 years. Going to a different Jr. High for 6th, 7th and 8th grade (all in a different country no less) is NOT fun.
Luckily, when I hit 10th grade I was able to settle down and know for a fact that I'd be there till graduation.
Luckily, when I hit 10th grade I was able to settle down and know for a fact that I'd be there till graduation.
Justin Bailey
------ ------
Elementary School - Was great times. I was one of the weird kids though and got picked on some at school, but the kids on my block were ok for the most part. Played a lot of video games (I was the "nintendo kid" on my block), backyard football, built forts, climb trees - all kinds of kid stuff. Made A's and B's in school.
Middle School - The Dark ages. Things started to go downhill in school and everything else. I stopped playing video games and didn't do much else other than "hang out" with a few people that weren't really my friends (didn't realize this till later on). I started smoking cigarettes.
High School - Didn't fit in anywhere and hung out with the wrong crowd. Started doing drugs. I was one of the social "outcasts" and had a few people who I considered friends who I hung out with and the rest were pretty much worthless. Made crappy grades (the only reason I got into a univerversity was my SAT score). Things started looking up by Junior year when I just basically hung out with my two or three best friends. I drank heavily, but I had a good time the last two years. I started playing video games again thanks to Mario 64.
College - I moved away from my hometown and started from scratch. Met some really cool people (who happened to be avid gamers) on my freshman year dorm hall and have remained good friends with them ever since. I became addicted to video games again and my grades shot up. I (and still do) partied quite a bit. Now I am in Grad school.
I should add to all of this that I've always been a geek/dork/nerd, but I "tried" to be one of the cool kids in middle and the beginning of high school (big mistake). I always made myself uncomfortable trying to be someone who I was not. Now that I'm content with geekness, my self-esteem is 1000X what it was during those years. Oh yeah, I also find it kinda funny that the correlation between my video game addiction and my grades is positive.
Whew, sorry this kinda turned into my life story (abridged version).
Middle School - The Dark ages. Things started to go downhill in school and everything else. I stopped playing video games and didn't do much else other than "hang out" with a few people that weren't really my friends (didn't realize this till later on). I started smoking cigarettes.
High School - Didn't fit in anywhere and hung out with the wrong crowd. Started doing drugs. I was one of the social "outcasts" and had a few people who I considered friends who I hung out with and the rest were pretty much worthless. Made crappy grades (the only reason I got into a univerversity was my SAT score). Things started looking up by Junior year when I just basically hung out with my two or three best friends. I drank heavily, but I had a good time the last two years. I started playing video games again thanks to Mario 64.
College - I moved away from my hometown and started from scratch. Met some really cool people (who happened to be avid gamers) on my freshman year dorm hall and have remained good friends with them ever since. I became addicted to video games again and my grades shot up. I (and still do) partied quite a bit. Now I am in Grad school.
I should add to all of this that I've always been a geek/dork/nerd, but I "tried" to be one of the cool kids in middle and the beginning of high school (big mistake). I always made myself uncomfortable trying to be someone who I was not. Now that I'm content with geekness, my self-esteem is 1000X what it was during those years. Oh yeah, I also find it kinda funny that the correlation between my video game addiction and my grades is positive.
Whew, sorry this kinda turned into my life story (abridged version).
- Status