Fennell

The NEW Green Girl

Over two hundred sets of eyes stare at me as I walk down what seems to be a pyramid of
stairs. I dont fit in, and I know it; you would think every place had people like me but I guess
not. I have never been to a college before and especially not a class filled with so many people. I
feel the sweat stains start to form on the back of my shirt as I walk at a swift pace to my seat in
the front row. Im not sure if I am just paranoid and making myself stick out like a sore thumb or
if everyone is speaking a different language behind my back because I can not seem to
understand anything they are saying. On top of that I see two guys do a weird hand shake where
their long tan hands move swiftly in different motions and I turn my head in disbelief of all of
this strange behavior.
I wonder why no one wants to sit beside me or even in the front row? Do they not like
me? Am I really that weird? So many thoughts run through my head as I sit through what feels
like a three-hour long class but only thirty minutes have gone by. Im not interested in any of the
weird writings the professor is making on the board so I drift off into a daze of how great my life
used to be. I was so popular at my old school where our classes started and ended whenever we
wanted them to, and I knew almost everyone in my class. I even had a boyfriend, but I guess I
really took my life for granted. Back then it didnt seem so great but now Ill do anything to have
it back.
I was so deep in thought that I failed to realize that a really hot guy sat beside me. He
caught my attention when he reached near my foot to pick up his pencil. As I looked over at him
he quickly turns his head as if he had seen a ghost or something that disgusted him. I forgot to
mention that my skin color is very abnormal. Im consider to be a beautiful hunter green back
home but here in this strange town it is considered weird or scary. I start to tear up and want to

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cry as I play back the look he gave me in my head. Am I really that bad looking? The answer to
my question was made clear after a week went by of the same incident with numerous people. I
feel so lonely and unwanted here. No one wants to sit near me, talk to me, or look my direction
and I barely have any family.
To my surprise today someone actually decided to talk to me after noticing my skin color.
Although he gave me a funny look I appreciate having someone to converse with. He asks me
where I am from and what I like to do instead of why I look so green and act different from
everyone else. The conversation is going so well until he reached his arms out at what seems to
look like he is going to grasp my arms to take me away. I am scared for life and knew that the
conversation was just a set up so I immediately grabbed his hand and turned it back until I heard
a crack. I pick up my bag and run for my life. When I arrived at my home and told my sister
what happened she laughs at me and says, You poor thing. The guy was reaching out to give
you a hug. I am so embarrassed which is no secret because of how red my cheeks turn. From
that moment I decided that I would be a new person and make sure that people knew the real,
nice me. Instead of judging everyone and thinking that they were speaking bad about me, I
decided to smile at everyone and to break out of my hard shell. Hugs mean a lot to me now after
my incident, and I now enjoy giving hugs. Because of my transformation I have been able to
make a lot of new friends that really care for me.
One day the teacher gives out laptops to everyone in the class along with an assignment
that we must complete. As I look at the screen in great confusion and bang on the keypad the
person beside me laughs. I think to myself Oh no. shes going to tell all of her friends how
dumb I am! Surprisingly the girl beside me reaches over and explains to me everything I need

Fennell

to know in order to work my laptop and I couldnt be any happier. This same day I learned how
to catch a bus and I am shocked at how fast the vehicle can take me from school to my home.
When I think of home this is the last place I would think of it to be but now Im adjusting
to this huge change and really love it. I forgot about most of the people I called my friends back
in Uthania, my home town, but I know they are all looking down at me now at a different
perspective. Uthania is nothing like being here in America; the people here make me feel so
welcomed and I meet someone and learn something new every day.
I am invited to a party and as Im there surrounded by people I have recently met and that
look nothing like me my head begins to glow. I did not realize it until everyone pointed it out. At
first I feel embarrassed until I remember what my family taught me about people whose heads
glow in the dark. I tried to cover it up and think of a lie to tell for why my head is glowing but
my friends told me to embrace it. It is a sense of happiness and growth and I could not stop
smiling after that. I can finally say Im happy with the person that I am becoming and how much
I have grown within these few weeks. How amazing is it that people you hardly know can have
such a huge impact on your life and the biggest growth can happen in the place you least expect?
I just cant stop thinking about how I use to walk around with my head down, shoulders slumped
over, and sit low in my seat, but now I walk with my head held high and stand straight up!
As I leave the party alone I look up in the dark black sky with bright stars. A wise man
once told me that, life is what you make it and that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
With that in mind I pick up a stick and use it as my pointer to try to count all of the stars that I
see and hope to connect them. This reminds me of how I always try to connect the moments in
my life and always want to know how much more I have to deal with or what will happen next.
After a while I figured that it was almost impossible to count every single star and to connect

Fennell

them all. That reassures me that everything will connect in the end and it is alright to not know
what comes next in life. I arrive at my home which from the outside looks so boring and old
but in the inside is filled with color and happiness. A little voice in my head tells me that this is
where I should stay for a while and I agree. I prepare to shower since my hair feels so slimy after
sweating all night at the party. The porch light glistens on my skin as I walk into the house, I
notice the kitchen light is still on along with the lamp in my room, the spot light in my bathroom
mirror which is very weird because its normally always dark in my house. As I shower and rub
the soft washcloth over my smooth skin and condition hair I cant help but to smile. I display a
radiant smile because of how comfortable and carefree I am now. This town has a lot to offer and
I encourage all of my family and friends and anyone that is feeling out of place to come visit
so they can experience what I have. A feeling of acceptance and unconditional love surrounding
you is the best. I share my story for anyone out there that feels alone, down, or lack of
motivation. You are not alone and you are loved.