Childhood Remembered

Remember when we were younger and watched all the newest movies on Disney channel? Hocus Pocus, Halloween Town, and Nightmare Before Christmas during Halloween? Or the really cheesy movies Disney made, but we didn’t really care because we got to watch TV or at the time I suppose it really didn’t matter. Also, the classic movies like Cinderella, Snow White, or my favourite, Beauty and the Beast.

What’s weird, is what I miss most, is the old Disney logo at the beginning of every movie. Not many people younger than us remembers it unless they have the old VHS.  What really gets me giggling is when “Walt Disney” was being spelling out, I couldn’t tell what the “D” was for the life of me.  I honestly thought is was a “G” or something.  You learn things once you get older and really understand.  Who knew?  You get learnt when you grow up.

The newer movies have a 3D Disney Castles with the actual Tinker Belle making an arch over it.  I mean…it’s cool and all…but it’s not what I grew up with.

This nostalgia was brought upon by watching Cool Runnings last night on Netflix. I remember watching it so long ago, but the one thing that sticks in my mind is that logo. This is where that 90’s kid comes out of me. All these great movies are being lost because Disney is trying to appeal to the new, younger generation. They don’t care that much that us older kids like the old stuff. The new Disney movies are alright, I guess, but they can’t beat what I grew up with.

This brings me to the old Disney channel. I feel like I learned more about values and being kind, and learning how to do crafts (Out of the Box). These new Disney shows really pick up on the younger generations need for material things. I only know this because I babysit a few younger kiddos.

What is your favourite memory from your childhood?

You Hang Out With WHO?!?!

When we go through our education, we find our groups, we stay in those groups, and it almost always happens that we are very particular who we let into our group or who we associate with.

When I was growing up, I had a group, but I was so different from them that I didn’t exactly fit in but they accepted me anyway. One thing that made me so different from my group is that I was involved in many other things. My group wasn’t my sole focus and I made friends easily. So I basically fit in everywhere.
By the time I got to middle school, I really was not a part of that group any more. I was kind of ostracized.

Yeah, poor Kaitlin.

I was sitting alone in the bleachers waiting to be dismissed to class…all. by. myself. At that time, I really didn’t understand why my friends didn’t want to hang out with me. I thought I was pretty cool and interesting. I admit, I was goofy and couldn’t care less about boys and make-up (because I didn’t wear any) but friends should accept you no matter your personality. I admit, I was hurt but I got over it like the young kid I was. I made new friends. Better friends.

I can see my younger self in my head going “na na nana na” while sticking her tongue out. You do, too. Don’t deny it.

It was probably the best decision because looking back, it would have been a very dangerous path to lead. I made friends with the basketball players, since I played throughout middle school, the band geeks, the orchestra nerds, and a lot of other people. I mean, I was sad that the friends I grew up with dumped me but I made the best of it and trekked on.

High school, I was still friends with the band geeks and a handful of other people, but my group of friends was dwindling. I wasn’t sad. I feel like that I was narrowing my group of friends to ones of quality. I didn’t need numbers. Who needs that many friends anyway. I could spend quality time with them and get to know them on a personal level.

Now to my real point.

When I got to college, I really didn’t know anything about the Greek System.  I think everyone should be a blank slate and no one should know who they are talking to so they can make an unbiased decision.  Many girls and guys, too, make the decision to join a specific sorority or fraternity solely based on the status of the chapter.  I mean WOW!  How can you make that big of a decision based on that alone?  Granted, I am generalizing this.  But it HAPPENS!! And so many girls recruiting base their decision to accept a girl as her new sister based on her looks or who knows her.  (again, generalizing)  I walk down Greek Row and I can point out who belongs to what sorority, sometimes it’s a bit difficult for fraternities.  These girls conform to their sorority’s look and they become XYZ.  I am not judging, but it is true.  I’m also, not complaining, my style choices in high school, middle school, and elementary school were really not that great.  Poor fashion choices on my part.  I love how we all can agree that Nike shorts, big shirts, and sandals are a prime fashion trend.  Don’t forget leggings.

The main thing that gets me is that we classify some fraternities and sororities as “top-houses.”  It really disgusts me.  We are all a part of a Greek Organization and we all want to better ourselves, the community, and do better in our higher education career.  We need to, as a Greek System, to break the stigma of being a “bottom-house” and “top-house.”  Yes, being a top house has a stigma.  If you consider yourself a top house, (generalizing, yet again) you look down on other houses who are trying to do better but never getting the opportunity to showcase their talents.  I know many people who are bursting with talent and never getting the opportunity to show that talent because of that ceiling.  Why can’t we really rock the boat and go out of our comfort zones and get to know EVERYONE in our Greek community?  Participate with another sorority/fraternity in shows, date parties, philanthropy events.  Go out and support every organization besides the norm.  We are all supporting great causes and we should all go out of our way to help them.

I have always wondered why on applications you need to put your affiliation.  Shouldn’t that be secondary to what you can bring to the table?

I’m ranting now but it’s true.

I’ve always wanted to say this aloud and really hope to hear other people’s opinions.  I’m curious to hear what you have to say.