First Impressions
By scott18
@scott18 (14)
United States
February 22, 2009 8:43pm CST
I turned 30 recently, and I still look like I'm 17. It's tough looking in the mirror every day and seeing a kid. Especially when it comes to first impressions.
They say first impressions are everything and I tell you I have noticed the effect they have on new relationships, particularly in business. How can I be expected to "command authority" when everybody thinks I'm the youngest one in the room? Even later, after known someone for a while I'll find that I still have to reassert myself during certain conversations and "remind" them of how old I actually am.
I mean, I've got some experience in life now. I've put in work and earned my keep. I've been through it. And it's not as if I'm some immature moron. I'm intelligent, responsible, hard working, respectful... I guess it's just hard for some people to look past appearances. People meet me and they see a kid. From that point on, I'm a kid in their mind. Even after they know I'm not, it's still there. That's how first impressions work.
Oh well. They say it'll come in handy when I'm older - well I'm 30 now and still waiting.
4 responses
@joyoustreasures (185)
• United States
23 Feb 09
Well hey, You mean there is someone else that is like me? Yay! I'm 21, and people think I'm 14. Yes, it can really get in the way sometimes! Especially the part where all the 14 year old boys think I'm their age and have a big crush on me! Agh!
Maybe when you're 80 you'll be glad about it lol! Or maybe you'll be like Michael J Fox! Haha. I have a friend...when I met him I was at a paintball war and most of the boys where about 14-16. I thought he was 16, and then I found out he was married and had a child on the way!
I play the piano...sometimes I get comments like "wow, you play really well for being so young!" Humph! I'm going to start wearing a T-shirt that says 1987 on the back.
@scott18 (14)
• United States
23 Feb 09
That part about 14 year old boys have crush on you. That's so true. I swear I can't get a date cause it seems like it's only the high school girls that check me out and the women my age look at me like I'm a kid. Like next to them I would look like their little brother or something. I swear, there's gotta be something in the middle.....
@joyoustreasures (185)
• United States
23 Feb 09
What kind of music do you play? I do mostly classical, like Beethoven and Chopin, but occasionally I enjoy other kinds too.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
23 Feb 09
You have to continue to assert yourself until your looks catch up with your age. A former coworker of mine is brilliant. He was home schooled and we first met as students in the community college I attended when he was 16 and I was 35. We both went on to work for the college and he eventually became the Network Administrator. The faculty at the college started off trying to bully him into bypassing our established rules about submitting requests for new software installation by a specific date with their pompus attitudes but he always stood tall and firm, even though he was something like 5'8" and skinny. It was the attitude of being in charge that they couldn't get around. Some folks may see you as a kid no matter what but they will respect you if you insist on it and if your accomplishments say that you're not wet behind the ears.
@Downunder_dude (407)
• Australia
23 Feb 09
I'm in the same boat as you - I'm 28 and I apparently look like I'm about 18.
It leads to a lot of people kinda treating me like a kid.
For the most part though, I actually find it makes getting through life a lot easier.
The only really annoying part is being asked for I.D. whenever I go out somewhere that requires it.
Still, I'd rather look younger than older.
