Boards
Good thing I love heels! | Source: ShutterStock
I first realized I was short when I was in middle school. In my small Catholic school, our teachers used to line us up by height every day. I was always in the front, tied for first position with my equally tiny friend Damary. Whether we were walking into the cafeteria for lunch, filing into church, or going outside for recess, I was almost always leading the group. The boys would giggle as we took our position and say things like, “Are you guys ever going to grow?” Whatever, they had cooties anyway.
At first, I assumed I would grow to be tall. I thought that by eighth-grade graduation, I would have taken my place in the back of the line with the other long-legged kids in my class. But then, during a weekly visit to my very Italian great-grandma, I realized that she was 4’10, and I started to get worried. Later, I noticed that one of my older cousins, at 5’7, stood towering over the majority of my family. I heard a 19-year-old cousin talking about how she had finally realized she was done growing. She was 5’0. Things started to look bleak.
One day, I came home and complained to my mom about my height. “Will I ever grow?” I wailed to her. “Will I always be in the front of the line of everything?” My mom just smiled and told me the truth: my family is tiny (like a lot of Italian families), and there was no getting around that.
I was devastated at first (my dreams of being a supermodel suddenly seemed ridiculous), but I got over it pretty quickly. For one thing, I enjoyed being called petite. To my younger self, it sounded like “princess” (I have no idea why), and obviously, being a princess was my ultimate goal in life, so there was that. For another thing, I noticed that all of my older cousins who I looked up to were short – and that made it much more cool.
At 14-years-old, I had reached 5’0, and I knew in my heart I was done growing (and I really was). I embraced being short. Not only could I squeeze through crowds better than anyone I knew, but boys were always calling me “cute” and “adorable” and resting their arms on my shoulders. Okay, that last part got seriously annoying after a while, but it was fun when I was younger.
Hayden Panettiere and I share the same height | Source: DFree/ShutterStock
Honestly, I can’t tell you the main reason why I started loving my height – I just accepted that I was always going to be short, and I decided to own my vertically challenged genes instead of resent them. I remember complaining about my height to one of my best friends, who was nearing 6’0. She groaned and said, “Don’t even start. You’re so lucky that you’re tiny. I wish I could shrink to your height.” That day, I realized that the saying “the grass is always greener on the other side” was true. Maybe I was jealous of the tall girls, but maybe those tall girls were jealous of me, too. It was silly to me. Why obsess over something you can’t change?
Don’t get me wrong–there are definitely some annoying things about being short. It’s a little bit embarrassing when eight-year-old kids are towering over me. I always have to ask for help when trying to get something on a high shelf, and for some reason, people always find that really amusing. I also have a baby face, so I’m almost always mistaken for being at least five years younger than I actually am (but I’m told I’ll appreciate that one day).
Oh, and I’m never thrilled when new people I meet feel the need to tell me I’m petite. Example: “Wow, you’re so short! How tall are you?” Thanks for the (rude) reminder, guys, but I do own a mirror. I’m fully aware of my height.
But in the end, I would never trade my height with anyone (and if I really want to add a few inches, I know how to rock a pair of heels). Being short is just a part of who I am–and that might sound corny, but I like to think of it as one of my defining features. It makes me stand out. I’d rather embrace it than hate it any day.
Are you short? Or are you tall? Do you wish you were a different height? Tell us about it in the comments.
How one girl learned to love her small boobs
Right now, I’m only 4’11.5″. And I have been for the past half year. It’s really annoying because everyone else in my class ranges from 5’3″ to 5’7″.
I’m turning fifteen in a few months, and I’m already 5’11. My family aren’t overly small, my mum’s 5’8, but I always tower over everybody. In school, we have a few girls taller, but I always feel so awkward, because ALL my friends are insanely shorter than me!!! And I hate being so tall!!! I tower over most of the boys too, so there is no chance of getting a boyfriend either!!! There are a few, minimal adavantages to being tall, like looking over crowds and reaching high places, but when your family calls you to reach something, or your like a whole head and a bit over all your friends, it can make me really sad, especially when my friends complain about being short.
Im actually super short too. However I haven’t grown since seventh grade and im really afraid that Im already done growing. Im only 4’10″ and although i like my height because it makes me unique, i would like to reach five foot at some point. haha The only part that really sucks, is that im flat footed too. So ill never be able to add inches by wearing heels. :/
I am 5’3 right now and I’m considered very short by my family. Everyone in my family is taller than me and my little siblings are already heading up there. I was told that I am done growing. I stopped when I was 13. I love being short. There are many advantages of it. I can hide easily. Hide myself in a large crowd of tall, average height people, if someone I don’t like is looking for me. My dad, brother and uncle are all in the 6 foot range. My other brother is 5’9 and my mom is 5’7. All of my friends are taller than me. Being short is the best.
I am 5’8″ and am 14 years old! When I was in 4th grade, I was already taller than my teacher!, and the majority of my friends. To be frank, I almost always suspected that I would be “taller than average”, by the time I was 8, I was taller than my mom!, who was 5’4″! But now, when I went through my 8th grade promotion ceremony, I was starting to envy all of the shorter girls, they weren’t the ones that stood on stage for about 30 mins staring straight at all of the parents/ teachers. Although I’m taller than the majority of my female relatives, I have to say I’m glad that I’m 5’8″ (for now.)
me 2, I’m so short and skinny I mean I’m 132 cm long and I almost weigh 55 pounds although I’m 11 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but this and many other articles make me fell great about my height especially that I can wear highest heels ever and it won’t bother anyone
I am 17 years old and I am barely 4’10”.I am constantly being told to gain height by family friends.People who probably dont even care.I get teased by boys too.They make some hurtful comments.One guy actually had the audacity to say ‘she’s so short,she wouldn’t even reach my penis’.I think everybody is made differently and we should embrace that.But saying that is easy as compared to dealing with it.I have come to terms with the fact that I am unusually short but there are those days when I cry and feel pathetic about it.I would love any suggestions on how to tackle the rude variety.
Wow i am 5’5 ft and only 13! I am suppose to be 5’7 to 5’9. Its hard because all my friends are 4’10 i look like a giant in pictures!
17, and completely done growing. im only 4’9. most people think they would hate being my height, but to look on the bright side, i get a scholarship for being “vertically challenged” when i was told this i laughed out loud it was great!!
I am short, and all the time I get called “cute”, too. I don’t mind at all. I think people don’t really tease me about, because I like being around people a lot. So I always care about other people. The good thing is, I’m almost 13, and only like an inch from being my 40-year-old mother’s height. I won’t be THAT short. But being short can come in handy. I slide right under tables during class movies! All my tall friends get caught.
I’m 14 and 5’2, and atm i don’t feel that shirt but I wanna grow like atleast 2 more inches..just two more!
ahh its so nice to know that I’m not the only person who is teased about my height although most of the time its not my friends teasing me, its my teachers!!!
though i would not complain about how tall i am i have to give short girls credit. i feel they are lucky as they can always find boys who are taller then them without the fear that if they do wear heels they would tower over them! i have to always be careful about how high my heels are coz’ i always end up towering over my dates making me feel extremely awkward
I’m 5’5″ and just wanting another two inches so I can be as tall as my best friend, Sarah. Normally I just end up wearing heels and dealing with it.
I’m about 5’1 and I’ve always loved being short. Even being called ‘adorable’ by people, since I’m the short one in the group, makes it a lot of fun. So I’ll never be a supermodel, I wouldn’t ever be one anyway because of other parts of my appearance (height is the one thing I’m not self conscious about) being short always has it’s perks.
“Hey, cute tall guy, will you get something for me? I can’t reach.”
I am average height. When I’m with my friends I am one of the shortest people, but when I’m with my dance friends I am one of the tallest. What I am most upset about is that when I was younger everyone told me I would be taller then my sister. However, she is about 2 inches taller than me and I am sure I’m done growing.
I’m 16 and I’m somewhere between 5’1 and 5’2. Eventhough I accept the fact that I’m petite and love my height, I never lose hope that I would still grow. I’m not that insecure of my height because most Filipinos are as the same height as me and some don’t even reach 5 feet so I’m happy. Girl should never be insecure of their height because there is always a good side at everything that happens.:)
OMGee! I thought I was the only ‘short’, ‘petite’ girl who always stood in front of Qs! And I have a baby face, too. I’m 18, last year when I was 17 and was going to sit 4 an exam, an invigilator actually asked me if I’m up to 12. I was super embarrased. I reported to my mum when I went h0me and she and my sisters laughed over it.
N0w, I have to polish my nails, make my hair and wear alot of make-up to look mature (my age at least).
This article has d0ne so much good letting me knw I’m n0t alone..
I know that I won’t grow anymore,because I’m nineteen and I’m only 5’1. And I ‘m also a little bit overweight and I really don’t like it.
I am extremely short and extremely skinny! It is so annoying sometimes to be called munchkin and shorty, and one time some random person walked up to, patted my head, and said “what a cute little girl!” I am 14! Not 7! Lol… I usually really love my height though, and I actually enjoy being tiny. I don’t even care anymore that I am 6 inches shorter and 28 pounds lighter than the second smallest person in school. I actually like it.