What it’s like to be six feet at PHHS

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.