Based on the fact that my music tastes haven't changed since middle school, I jokingly tell my friends that I've never actually left the emo stage in my life. As one of them told me that everyone's had an emo stage at some point in his or her life, I looked back and thought about various characteristics that became more apparent during this stage of life. Here is a list of ten.

1. Fringed Hair

If you really wanted to go extreme, you would cover most of your eye. You probably also had a razor to cut your own hair.

2. Odd Colored Hair

Whether it was stripes or your entire head, you either wanted to or did dye your hair. I went for orange stripes, while I had friends who would come to school with a new color each month.

3. Black Clothing and Accessories

Clothes consisted mostly of skinny jeans, black rimmed glasses, and chokers. Your shoes were probably black Vans or Converse, and your arm was adorned with lots of bracelets.

4. Studded Belts

Chances were that you probably owned the same studded belt in at least three different colors. Thank you, Hot Topic.

5. iPods filled with music by Mayday Parade, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, etc.

Because you never needed someone else to help you experience feelings. You could just whip out your iPod whenever needed to hear heart wrenching lyrics.

6. Black Eyeliner and Nail Polish

I still remember making myself look like a raccoon the first time I tried to apply eyeliner. My fingernails also looked like I had broken the polish bottle on top of them. Yet, they were both necessary to show my dark feelings.

7. The Perfectly Angled Mirror Selfie

Whether it was using an LG enV or a point and shoot camera, the picture was always taken in a bathroom at an angle. Also, you never smiled.

8. Sensitivity

It didn't take much to make you cry or get upset. My mom usually alluded it to puberty, but we all know that it was much more than just hormones.

9. Art

Whether through writing, drawing, or music, you found a way to convey your emotions in an artistic way that you still felt that no one could understand or connect with.

10. Introversion

You may have locked yourself in your room every day, remained an outcast in school by choice, or was too socially awkward to talk to other kids, but introversion added to the complete look that an emo kid possessed.