Judge

It's funny how you can see someone for years, and have this image of them in your head, of how their life is, and who they are, but find out that the appearance they put on is really an act.

I'm working a part time job right now, just during my winter break before I go back for my next semester at college, and there's a girl named Sara who I went to high school with that also works there. I think she started working there around June of 2007? But that's irrelevant.

Anyway, obviously, we talk at work. She's one of those funny, outgoing girls that gets along with everyone. In high school, everyone knew her, and she was pretty friendly to them. We were in choir together, back in high school, so it's not like we were complete strangers. So, like I said, we talk, naturally.

Today, after work, we decided to head over to Chik-Fil-A for milkshakes, since it's in the same shopping district as the store that we work at. So we went, which was a little weird because I NEVER see this girl outside of school, or work. We talked about life, and a lot about boys. I told her my story about Greg, or part of it, anyway. And she was talking about her current boyfriend, Mike, and eventually brought up her relationship with this guy she dated from middle school into freshman year of high school. I could have SWORN they were the perfect couple. Ya know, that couple that was going to be together throughout all of high school, go to the same college, and get married, forever dubbed the "High School Sweethearts." Needless to say, I was wrong.

They broke up at the end of their freshman year, I believe (which was news to me sophomore year). On the outside, they seemed perfect. HE seemed perfect. He was that goodlooking guy, who played lots of sports, and though he wasn't completely buff, he had that good body. He was extremely smart, and probably in the run for valedictorian. Again, I was wrong. Sara told me that he was incredibly controlling, and that relationship was probably one of the worst times of her life. He would tell her how to dress, how to act, who to hang out with, etc. He also pulled that familiar line of "If you love me, you'll do this" which, in my book, is the worst possible thing you could ever say to someone. Or one of them, anyway.

It's just funny how you really don't know a person until you know them outside of school, of work, of whatever. Until you've sat down and actually talked or hung out. And yet, despite how many times this has been said, we still judge. All of us, whether we want to or not. I know I have, and still do. I judged my roommate. I thought she was going to be this party animal whore. She is, in fact, quite a party animal, but she is the furthest thing from a whore, and I feel eternally apologetic for ever calling her that. My best friend judged me, and she is the least judgemental person ever. She thought I was changing who I was when I smoked pot for the first time. I told her that college was about trying new things - hell, LIFE is about trying new things - and that would in no way, shape, or form change who I am and my morals about life. I will never, ever throw my life away for drugs, and because I drink or smoke socially does not make me a bad person. And besides, smoking is not my cup of tea. I'm a singer, or I like to think I'm one, and the last thing I would ever do is indulge in something often that would permanently damage my lungs and vocal chords.

The point is, we all judge people. It's one of the natural human instincts. And that, I'm afraid, will never change. (Unless we become one of those controlled societies where everyone looks, dresses, and acts the same, like in that book 1984.)