seeing the world through red rimmed glasses

   I used to walk down the halls of my highschool and not know who I was waving at.  People would ask me why I didn't say hey to them that day.  It was all because I was too embarassed to wear my glasses.  I needed them to see but I didn't want to mess up my face or distract from my eyes.  Glasses have been percieved to be for smart, and/or nerdy people.  Back then I was not secure enough to admit to my nerdyness.  However, one day my freshman year of college I decided to finally wear my glasses.  It happened for a combination of different reasons.  First of all, I got sick of not seeing the world. Second, I wanted to be taken more seriously by people.  The number of catcalls has drastically reduced upon wearing glasses. I hate to say that they demand more respect, but they do.  Since then my glasses have become a part of my identity and an extension of who I am.  It is strange that there are stereotypes and feelings that go with things as small and as insignificant as glasses.  I know how I look with them on and I feel confident in my intelligence, not because of them alone, but maybe with the help of them.