Pimples and Angst

Pimples have decided to take over my chin this week. You would think that God would have an out-clause that after all your teenage years filled with blemishes and night creams, that you would then get to go on living your 20's in facial clear bliss. But no, I swear I'll still be looking over the Noxzema products at Wal-mart when I hit 60. There is only one emotion that runs through my body as I stare into the mirror wishing the pimples would just disappear; teenage angst. You remember those intense emotions of strife that make up every one's teen years. Where every problem is blown 100 times out of proportion due to crazy hormone changes. As I stare into my reflection glaring at my acne, I am suddenly swept away back in time...

I'm back in junior high, and one little slip of my foot has caused a large and ill placed hole in my uniform shorts. For the rest of the day, I am forced to wear my large, baggy, red gym shorts. The icing on the cake is that as I walk away, you can see "KRILE" written in 3 foot tall black letters across my butt. Aughh! In all my teenage wisdom, I'm pretty sure I will die of embarrassment by the end of the day.

Somehow I live to make it to high school and my first job. I'm the new receptionist at the high school aquatic center, only I'm desperate to quit after the first week. You see, the guy I was dating for "forever" dumped me a few weeks ago, and he just happens to be one of our schools star swimmers. That means having to avoid eye contact and pretending to busy almost everyday as he walks through the lobby. The stress alone made me want to buy stock in Clearasil.

Luckily I stuck with the job for over two years and made it to college. My class schedule is made, and before I know it I'm swamped with homework and labs. With finals right around the corner, it is vital to study since the test counts 25% of your final grade. With plenty of studying and rest, I wake up the morning of my final wondering why I feel a little bit too rested. Could it be that I forgot to set my alarm clock and have now conveniently slept through the entire 3 hour testing period for the final. Ahh!!! I leave about 30 frantic, half crying, messages to my professors answering machine begging for a second chance. And like all teen angst problems, it was resolved without any real problem. I re-took the test, passed my classes, and graduated college.

Now in the real world with my feet firmly planted, you would think that a silly thing like acne wouldn't get to me. But think back for a second to your teen years, you know you have stories like mine. Now everyone go wash your face and hope to never have to relive your teen years!