Do You Feel Misunderstood?
Everybody, at one time or another, feels misunderstood. Maybe you’ve done something--without even knowing it--that’s brought about the silent treatment from your best friend. Maybe you have an undeserved reputation at school. Or maybe your parents have grounded you, and you’re not exactly sure why.
Hot Topics wonders: “What is the one thing you feel you are most misunderstood about?”
“I am most misunderstood about my life style. Because of the friends I hang around, most people often think I am loud and even arrogant. I enjoy being with my friends, but more than that, I enjoy my quiet times.”
Carter Kim, 17,
senior, Brea-Olinda
“The image I present at school, because during the last five years or so, I have had a total rebel attitude. I know that in a year or so reality will kick in and my ‘party’ years will be mostly a memory.”
Tom Cornwell, 18,
senior, Brea-Olinda
“People just don’t seem to understand my intentions. Different people have different personalities, and therefore need more or less of my time. Some people handle compliments better than others; therefore, they receive more or less and the appearance is sometimes misleading. I wish everyone would know I really do care about them equally, and sometimes my distribution of myself isn’t always as fair as I would like it to be.”
Jeff Vinson, 16,
junior, Brea-Olinda
“People are always trying to get too much out of me. They expect that I can do so much in so little time.”
Neal Schuster, 15,
sophomore, Brea-Olinda
“Most people think I’m really quiet and shy, but once you get to know me, I’m totally opposite.”
Andrea Baiz, 16,
junior, Brea-Olinda
“The way I act.”
George Palafox, 17,
junior, Cypress
“The way I feel about others.”
Joanne Cox, 15,
sophomore, Cypress
“My meanness, because it’s a type of sarcasm, but someone may take it as a put-down.”
Justin Boatman, 16,
junior, Dana Hills
“My seriousness, because people take the things I say the wrong way.”
Ryan Harrison, 17,
senior, Dana Hills
“My jokes, because people don’t think they’re funny, but I do.”
Janet Rollins, 16,
junior, Dana Hills
“My personality, because I have mood swings.”
Chris Reese, 15,
sophomore, Dana Hills
“When I’ve just met someone and I act shy, sometimes they think I’m stuck-up.”
Wendy Gilpin, 15,
sophomore, Dana Hills
“People think I’m smart because of the classes I take, but I really don’t study as much as they think.”
Arie Loeb, 14,
sophomore, Fullerton
“People think I’m quiet, but in reality I’m really wild and obnoxious.”
Katie Zerga, 16,
junior, Fullerton
“People think that because I’m a blonde, I’m stupid, but that’s not true.”
Becky Oakden, 17,
senior, Fullerton
“My music, because I like hard rock and heavy metal, but my parents aren’t thrilled with it.”
Kari Johnson, 16,
senior, Irvine
“When your parents make you do your homework even though you know you have enough time to do something else.”
Vanessa Chepo, 14,
sophomore, Marina
“My hair; people think that because I have long hair I’m some kind of dirt bag or something.”
Marc Larson, 17,
senior, Marina
“My problems.”
Lori Ermel, 16,
senior, Marina
“Life--in general.”
Christine Quimbo, 15,
sophomore, Mater Dei
“People misinterpret you in your actions, thoughts and words.”
Melissa Trullio, 15,
sophomore, Mater Dei
“People see me as a quiet person, and believe me, that’s not true.”
Ludwig Freimuth, 17,
junior, Mater Dei
“People make judgments about you before you know them.”
Amy Kelly, 17,
senior, Mater Dei
“When anyone over 21 treats all teen-agers like we’re weapon-wielding, tire-slashing, gang members with no goals or aspirations to call our own.”
Paul Ohm, 16,
senior, Ocean View
“When my parents ask me why I’m so tired after school, because they think school doesn’t compare to one of their rough days at work.”
Jon Thorne, 17,
senior, Ocean View
“By my parents when they think I am just like any teen-ager they see on television or when they compare me to other kids they know. I am different, and I am no regular, ordinary person. Is anyone?”
Seema Mehta, 15,
sophomore, Ocean View
“Whenever I meet some guy and then I talk to him or be what you’d call friendly, most of my friends tend to jump to the conclusion that I like the guy, which I don’t. Can’t a girl be nice to a guy without wanting or liking him?”
Annie Piyabdtayakarn, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“People think I study all the time because I usually get good grades. Actually, I practice water polo for 2 1/2 hours after school, go over to my friend’s house, eat dinner, watch some TV, then do my homework if it’s due the next day.”
Kurt O’Donnell, 16,
junior, Ocean View
“How I am, because a lot of people totally stereotype me.”
Mary McDevitt, 16,
junior, Rosary
“People think I’m not smart or able to play sports because I’m a songleader/cheerleader.”
Elaine Esqueda, 16,
junior, Rosary
“My parents can’t understand why I listen to the music that I do. They think I’m weird.”
Andrea Schunk, 15,
sophomore, Rosary
“About always being happy, because while it’s nice to be known as a happy girl, sometimes my friends don’t take me seriously.”
Monica Cha, 15,
junior, Saddleback
“Many people think that a young girl like me can’t have problems. But when I do have problems, not too many people think that I, too, can suffer.”
Lupita Gonzalez, 16,
junior, Saddleback
“Ignorant classmates classify hard-working students as a no-social life deadbeat.”
Tri Nguyen, 16,
junior, Saddleback
“People think I’m self-glorified. I’m not. I’m just proud and truthful.”
Elvia Rodriguez, 17,
senior, Saddleback
“People always classify me. They think that I study all day and don’t have time to sleep and eat. They are completely wrong.”
Melissa Nguyen, 16,
junior, Saddleback
“People misunderstand my attitude toward them. They think I dislike them when I really don’t.”
Duy Do, 17, senior,
Santa Ana Valley
“Just because I smile a lot, people think I’m a happy person and that my life is perfect. They don’t understand that I have problems, too.”
Jenny Dang, 17, senior,
Santa Ana Valley
“People think that I’m so confident, but I’m really insecure.”
Tina Duenas, 15, sophomore,
Santa Ana Valley
“Everybody thinks I have my life planned out, but I don’t.”
Scott Crosby, 17, senior,
Santa Ana Valley
“Christianity, because I’m very serious about my religion and many people don’t see me that way.”
Michi Quick, 17,
senior, Western
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
What is your philosophy of life?
Hot Topic responses gathered by Jooyoung Lee (Brea-Olinda), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Dana Wilshin (Dana Hills), Colleen Cruz (Fullerton), Amy Anderson (Irvine), Debbie Maddox (Mater Dei), Jenny Henderson (Marina), Felice Wu (Ocean View), Asra Hashmy (Rosary), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback), Hang Nguyen (Santa Ana Valley) and Heather Orey (Western).
DR, JORGE AYALA