Good Things Come In Unusual Packages

by Maureen Stenzel-Rogers

She was an unlikely hero. In fact, I didn't realize at the time how much of an impact she had on my life and on the lives of others.

It was high school in the 80s. The time of Madonna and Flashdance-inspired style. The hyper-critical popular crowd would make or break you for the slightest infraction.

Then there was Anne. I don't remember when she actually showed up and I don't think anyone really knew very much about her. But she was noticed. She wore overly colourful peasant skirts (several at once), a variety of blouses/shirts/coats and weird footwear. Horn-rimmed glasses and a huge tote bag and slightly-unkempt straight hair. And she didn't care. She was so comfortable with herself that the stares and comments and nasty looks and gossip never registered.

It was in the wake of her self-confidence that it was okay if I didn't wear Jordache jeans every day. People barely noticed Elizabeth's disastrous haircut. Or the fact that Troy was wearing the same clothes for three days because his drunk father kicked him out. The popular girls who camped out at the front doors and criticized everyone were now obsessed with Anne's look of the day. They now ignored the fat kids and the ones with acne and the too tall, too skinny, too whatever of us. Anne was their target and she met their wrath with grace and dignity.

Anne's obliviousness also inspired others to take a chance. Sandra started a new trend when she streaked her hair pink. Dave wore something other than sweats to class. There was more diversity and personal expression in everything from hairstyles to shoes. And when someone was being picked on in class, Anne would usually do something outrageous (like offer everyone their own beanbag) to attract attention.

I don't know what became of her. I don't have a single picture of her in my yearbooks. But I think of her often and hope that I can inspire the same courage and grace and self-acceptance in my daughter. The world needs more people like Anne.