Catching fire
Some
people are just so rigid and narrow minded.
My
mum reminded me of this story she finds particularly amusing regarding my
secondary school days.
 |
| (Source: Wikipedia) |
There was a day after school when I stayed behind with my project mates who happened to be all guys, as decided by the teacher. A few of us and another group of guys suggested playing catching together. 4 of the classmates stayed behind to play Magic the gathering cards also decided to join us. Block catching in school sounds risky and fun and we started playing since there were no one else around.
After
running around for half an hour, we were shouted to get down and gather. What a surprise to see my Operations Manager (OM) waiting for
us angrily when I got down!
He
scanned the 12 of us.. 11 boys and 1 girl. He asked us why we are running
around and none of us dared to answer. He asked us why we did not head home and we
remained silent. He then directed his stares at me, a girl wearing skirt (but
with shorts underneath) and exclaimed: Aren't you ashamed of being the only
girl running around with other guys? I felt so indignant and felt like replying
'So What?'
But
of course I did not.
That was not the end of the humiliation game. He rudely proclaimed that he was lucky he did not have a daughter that behaved like me. Why such a personal derogatory remark?
That was not the end of the humiliation game. He rudely proclaimed that he was lucky he did not have a daughter that behaved like me. Why such a personal derogatory remark?
I
was running around in school, not on the streets, not being a hooker, not
gambling, not drinking, not smoking, not experimenting with sex, not taking
drugs. I was exercising for goodness sake! It's a purely healthy activity but
why does he have to make me feel unworthy and trample all over me? If
it's a guy playing catching, it's fine but not a girl. Never should a girl be
running around and playing with guys.
 |
| Black sheep... figuratively and metaphorically (Source: Wikipedia) |
And
they laughed.
They understood my character being so sporty that I have no awkwardness with guys since I have brothers and many male cousins. They understood that some girls are really petite, dainty and feminine so I should not take it to heart. I am not like that and should not be ashamed of it but the OM should not be so harsh with his words.
I
know my parents have always been proud of me and never ashamed and that is all that
matters. But every time I thought of this incident, I would like to track down
my OM and tell him how I am today. Not to compare with his pretty, elegant
daughter but to show him that playing catching does not make me astray and does
not mean I am a bad student. I feel proud instead to be able to mingle and bond
well with the opposite sex and have fun together.
Some
people are just so rigid and narrow minded.
Jes
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LOL!
ReplyDeleteJes,
It's funny how some incidents will stick in our memory after so many years...
The irony is that we remember, the other person has forgotten :(
Hi SMOL,
ReplyDeleteSpot on, man! Most people will forget what they did but our actions do leave behind an impression on others... So we have to be careful of what we say and do and make the right impact.... Thanks for the insightful comment :)