Being A Wallflower | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Being A Wallflower

There are true perks to being a wallflower, it's just about realizing them.

89
Being A Wallflower
tumblr

"So, I guess we are who were are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there." -- Stephen Chbosky

For the longest time, I wanted nothing more than to be the social butterfly and have the ability to talk to everyone in a room. But that was never me and probably never will be. I used to be ashamed to be the shy and quiet person, yet now I know that everything has its perks. When sitting in the back of the classroom, standing along the walls of parties, or just wandering around the empty isles of a book store, you learn a few things about people and about life.

To start, you learn to listen. Leaves rustling on the ground, waves crashing on the sand, children's laughter at a playground, these are the things that many people don't take the time to listen to. However, it's the lessons you learn when listening that make the biggest difference. There are some things that you can comprehend more than everyone else, things that make you compassionate and understanding. Everyone has a past, and everyone has a story. Most people spend their entire life trying to hide the worst parts of their stories. Those of us who take the time to listen will be able to better understand and most importantly, know the part of the story that they aren't telling you.

A wallflower is defined as a person who, because of shyness, remains on the sidelines of social situations. A loner or a loser or a nobody, being a wallflower is never a desired status. This title has many negative connotations and I was one to believe in them. Never did I see the status of being a wallflower as a positive status to have. It wasn't until the "Perks of Being a Wallflower" started to gain massive popularity that I was able to accept my social status.

For those who have no idea what the "Perks of Being a Wallflower" is, let me briefly explain the book/film that helped to start the change of how I saw myself. Stephen Chbosky first wrote the book in a style that made it seem as if it was a collection of letters written by the main character, Charlie. Charlie is the perfect personification of what it means to be a wallflower. The book follows his struggles and triumphs (mostly struggles, if I'm being honest) during his freshmen year of high school and how being the outsider is the result of it all. As sibling senior misfits, Patrick and Sam befriend and allow Charlie to see that there isn't anything wrong with him and that it is okay to be an outsider. This is a wonderful and very short book for those that are not massive readers. Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller, the movie is also one of the best book to film adaptations that I have seen as the author is also the director in this case.

The book and film help to redefine what it means to be a wallflower. No longer am I ashamed or embarrassed of my title given to me by society. I do see things and I do understand. To many people, I am just another person in the background. Yet to the few people who take the time to let me open up, I am so much more. Wallflowers may stay to the side most of the time, but they can also be some of the most interesting people if you only get to know them.

We all have a bit of wallflower in us, and that's okay.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

185516
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

11760
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

455616
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25183
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments