For anyone that has ever felt left out or not up to par with their peers, this piece by Roxane Gay is a great read. As humans we like to fit in and be the best, and when we feel as if we are less of a person than our peers we cope with it in different ways. Roxane’s method of coping was to escape in the Sweet Valley High books where a perfect world is described. Looking back on her experiences Roxane realizes how silly it was to try to impress the popular kids and gather their attention. I think that after high school, the majority of people learn that popularity is temporary and perfection is unattainable. Roxane may not have been the most beautiful girl in her high school or the most popular person in town, but she still is a successful person and has made new goals that mean more to her. The Sweet Valley High books carried her through a rough time and shaped her into who she is today, but it is still painful for her to think back to these times. We can grow as people and learn from mistakes, but nostalgia is powerful and there is just an uneasy feeling about going back in time to a painful period or event in your life after overcoming it.
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