Month: April 2019

By Principal Davis

I consider myself a person with a healthy amount of self-confidence, but I must admit that this has not always been the case. When I was in school, I never voluntarily spoke up in class. It wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I figured out that I was just as smart as everybody else and that the people speaking up (often men) weren’t saying anything all that profound or unique. So I started forcing myself to speak up. It hasn’t always been easy, and at times, I still struggle with using my voice.

This phenomenon is not unique to just my experiences. In fact, the authors of the book, The Confidence Code For Girls, conducted a large scale survey that shows that there is virtually no difference between girls and boys in terms of self-confidence until adolescence, at which point there is as much as a 30 percent drop in girls’ confidence level.

Even the most introverted men don’t seem to struggle with confidence the way that most extroverted women do. There are a lot of theories floating around about why this disparity exists. One theory proposes that when girls go through puberty, their bodies change at an earlier age and at a faster rate than boys, making them uncomfortable with drawing attention and their way.

Another theory is that as women we are taught that being “bossy” or a “know it all” is unattractive, so we keep in the urge to take the lead in academic and professional settings.

I think that the answers lies in the middle of the Venn diagram of all of these theories and may vary depending on the individual. For myself, I believe that I tend to want to have the perfect answer, but at the same time, I do not want to come across as a “know it all.”

So why is this a problem? If a girl doesn’t feel comfortable speaking up in class, shouldn’t we just let her stay in her comfort zone and say, “Girl you be you”?

The problem with that mentality is that our classrooms are microcosms of society and are the training ground for the adult world. Watch the news and pay attention to the questions female presidential candidates are asked compared to their male counterparts. Look at how the public reacts to a woman who speaks up and is not placid: Is she celebrated or is “she off-putting”? Is she rewarded for using her voice or is she condemned because “she persisted”?

The long-term effects of classroom dynamics hurt not only the girls who aren’t raising their hands, but also the rest of society that is not benefiting from the full extent of the talents of half the population. It’s not a competition. Making sure that the female voice is heard in the classroom and the workplace does not diminish the male voice. Rather, it will make the conversation richer, more authentic and as a result, more valuable.

To the girls struggling to find their voice in the classroom, look inside yourself and assess what is making you feel uncomfortable—it is different for all of us. Is it the anxiety of having all eyes on you? Is it fear of how you will be perceived? Is it wanting to be absolutely sure you have the right answer? Figuring this out will help you to combat it. Overall, celebrate yourself and your strength—you have it, I promise.

One of my heroes, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (look her up), said it best: “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”

By Victor Xie

Hi! I’m Victor, and as of April 12, I am officially six feet tall. My journey to becoming six feet has been a long and grueling journey, although I have to credit my genes for most of it. Being taller than six feet at Piedmont Hills is a rarity only few can experience, and it is my pleasure to gift you all my insightful perspective. While there are both pros and cons of being tall, one thing I have realized is that to other people, my distance from the ground is the defining feature of who I am and who I am expected to be.

Being tall definitely has its positives. First of all, I can see to the end of the hallway during passing period, or whenever it’s crowded. Recently, Club Day was held in the Main Hall. While all the under-six-footers strained to navigate through the crowd unknowing of when the masses would stop, I could see above everyone and navigate through the hallway with ease. Second, I can constantly make fun of all my short friends. I can say casually, “How’s the weather down there?” or “Oh sorry, didn’t hear or see you there” or “The air up here is clean of all the short people.” Third, I can take longer strides than most of the school, meaning I can make it to class in one minute without having to run and embarrass myself looking like a freshman.

By contrast, what some people may not see are the negatives that come with my height. For one, I’ve always been judged for not being good at basketball or running. If you’re six feet, people usually assume you play basketball or run well. I do neither, so answering with a “no” usually puts a confused face on people. Next, whenever I take pictures with anyone, I look a head taller, making the photo quite disproportionate. However, I’ve discovered that bending down to their level usually does the trick. Lastly, while walking around campus, I occasionally bump into many people a day because when looking straight, they never come into my view. These experiences make it pretty hard to get through the day, as I tend to have sore arms and throats by the end of the day from constantly bumping into people and saying sorry.

However, the biggest thing about being six feet tall at Piedmont Hills is actually how much people remind me that I’m tall. My peers are always eager to say, “Victor, you’re so tall,” instead of, “Victor, you look great today.” They say, “Victor, you’re too tall,” instead of “Victor, you’re blocking my view.” And of course, “Victor, could you put that poster up for me?” instead of “Victor, get me a chair.” In essence, being my height defines me as a person and gives me a sense of uniqueness that is often lost at our school.

In conclusion, the distance which I preside above the ground and the common people is a compliment, nuisance, and defining feature of my experience at this school and its hallways. What would I be known for if not my height? Such questions are fun to ponder, and I think we should all keep an open mind of what defines us at this school.