Efthimios Raptis

Professor Tara Roeder

FYW 1000H(75519)

October 5, 2023

Living Through the Eyes of a Chameleon

School is officially over! This year seemed to go on forever. The fact that high

school is now in the past is both exhilarating and bittersweet. Today is the last day I will

hear that annoying bell ring between periods, and the last time I will smell the peculiar

odors in the hallways. I was overwhelmed by the emotions that flooded my mind. I

approached my friends, whom I had made since my freshman year, and hugged them

tightly as if it would be the last time we met. We are all heading to different colleges

hundreds of miles apart. Is our friendship about to end? I need to make the best out of

this summer. I said to them with a smile, "We can't make any excuses this year. Let's

hang out and make this the best summer ever!" They looked at me with joy, but the

smirks that they made made me feel childish. They agreed with a high-pitched

expression, and we finally decided where to go. However, my friends Vincent and

Demetri made it challenging to choose a place. I was always the one who had to make

the decisions. I wished they could pick for once since there were so many options. It

really wasn't that hard. Within a week of the last day of school, I missed my interactions

with my high school friends. I felt lonely and extremely bored staying home all day. So I

picked up my phone from my desk and immediately called Vincent, telling him we

needed to do something. I decided that we should go to the Central Park Zoo. My friend
Demetri had a problem with that idea. He said, “Why a zoo? That is the most boring

place you could possibly go to". I said it’s something we have never done before and

could be very enjoyable. After a couple of minutes of convincing, he finally agreed. We

decided to go on Friday.

So here I am, standing at the zoo entrance with the statues of a giraffe and an

elephant staring at me. These massive statues made me feel like a tiny ant, which

intimidated me. I can see the paint peeling off them, making the impression that this will

waste time. The odor worsened things as it got to the point that it made me dizzy. But I

questioned myself, what else would I be doing? After we passed the ticket booth, I saw

the different exhibits and thought this was better than anticipated. Seeing how the

animals adapted to the ever-changing environments was fantastic, and they continued

to thrive. I think to myself and connect that to my own life. We have technology that is

constantly improving, sometimes within seconds; for instance, we can know the weather

for the upcoming week with a button, making our lives much more accessible. Yet,

animals must work around obstacles and live without knowing and being able to change

every little thing that could occur.

That idea would not leave my head as my friends and I walked around the zoo.

Signs we passed express the fantastic traits that make each animal unique. I find it

amusing to see how each animal is different from the other, but still all thrive. The lions

use a fearless attitude and strength to hunt down their prey, while other animals, like

spiders, have a more sedentary lifestyle. They create traps and show a silent but deadly

personality. Yet, both animals manage to survive in the same world.

Then, one animal caught my eye. We walked around the reptile exhibit and saw the

many different creatures within their glass habits. My friends walked past this section,

not caring about these animals. They didn't find them as exciting. But, as for myself, I

was frozen. My eyes were stuck to the chameleon. This tiny animal uses its ability to

transform itself into its surroundings to protect itself. I watched this creature silently for a

long time. This chameleon reminds me of the biggest failure I have ever experienced

throughout my life. I realized I was living like a chameleon, blending in with my

surroundings and not using my voice to pursue my future endeavors.

I allowed the people around me to choose my destiny, deteriorating my confidence in

showing the world who I was. I spent my elementary and middle school years as a timid

young boy trying to fit in with no character. I was a people pleaser. As I watched the

chameleon, I remembered my first basketball game in the eighth grade, where my

teammates told me to wear my goggles, and I thought everyone would like them. I was

made fun of and became the laughing stock around my peers. Their actions upset me

as the people I trusted made it clear that I had no voice. To this day, I remember the

sounds of the hazing that my teammates did to me every time I showed up to practice. It

had gotten to a point where I didn't even want to be a part of the team anymore. As

painful as this moment was, it ignited the voice within me. Instead of allowing their

actions and hurtful comments to affect me, I embraced them and their criticism. The

start of high school continued to spark my inner voice. I started to work on myself

mentally and physically, not caring nor letting people's ideas change my own. In a way, I

evolved into a peacock, flourishing my beautiful, feathered voice. I opened up to

everyone and became confident with myself. I started to improve my health by working
out. I remember the sweat and tears I had while working out for the first moments. I

thought there was no way I would continue doing this, but I kept pushing myself to do it

because I didn't want to be like my old self back in junior high school. Ultimately, it paid

off, as it was a significant factor that made me proud to be me. I started to introduce

myself to many different people. Hearing the laughter coming out of my friend's mouth

when I made a joke made me very happy. I embarked on other prospects as my

confidence grew more and more. I decided to join the basketball team in high school,

trying to redeem myself from middle school. It turns out it did; although hearing the ball

dribble and my teammates yelling on the court reminded me of the past, having my new

mindset made me forget the past and embrace the present. Hearing the cheers the

students made every time I scored made my face brighten. For once, being myself was

indeed the spark of my happiness. I was like a peacock, not afraid to show off at

moments. I learned to be confident in my own image and personality, rather than

seeking validation as someone else.