BETH ROONEY

Essays: Stuck in the Middle

The junior high years are pivotal in forming identity; whether positive or negative this time period evokes a strong emotional response in all of us. These images at Wellston Middle School (WMS) in Wellston, Ohio reflects the universals of junior high while still capturing the essence of the specific location, Appalachia. It also shows that the nature of this time in their lives is more dictated by their emotional turmoil and social tensions, rather than practical issues.

"I was having a problem with one of my friends, and she wouldn't talk to me and she hid out in the bathroom. I wanted to talk it out, so I went in the bathroom stall after her. It all worked out in the end!" --Rachel Arigoni, 13.
   
"I like the fact that I am around my friends because they make me laugh. Middle school is harder and more boring [than grade school.] I don't know about high school; it looks hard."--Derrick Loudermilk, 12.
   
"We were sayin' that Walter was gay and that no one liked him."--Sara Kennedy (center), 14."They were telling a secret about me; I don't care if they do it." --Walter Washburn (far right), 14.
     
  
"Being in junior high sucks." –Mary Choate, 13.
  
"I was crying because I just lost someone. I don't often cry at school. Talking to the teacher did help because it helped me to know that he still lives on in my heart." --Audrianna Bowlby, 13.
   
"Josh and I have been dating for 10 months. I rewrite his name there every morning." --Kim Klintworth, 14.
     
  
"I don't think I'm pretty at all, because that's just me. I don't think most people think they're pretty. My friends tell me I am, but I don't believe them. I don't have much self-confidence. And I just don't think I'm pretty or smart." – Jaymie Howard, 13
   
  
"I feel confident about my appearance, except for my chest. I feel different because I'm growing faster than friends my age. But other than that I'm fine...I've had lots of boyfriends. My longest relationship was about 3 months and that was my 6th grade summer and it was pretty serious. He was in high school, he was a freshman. My last boyfriend was 16 and before that he was 15. They're usually a couple years older..." --Sarah Simpson, 13.
     
  
"No one really goes to the dances this year. Last year everyone went. But if you do go to the dance you better slow dance with someone, or you'll be left out."-- Cassandra Gillum, 13.
   
"Most people in Wellston are sexually active. They think it's fun and it's just something to do when they’re bored. There are girls around here that will be walking around and any guy they see they just want to go for it. They'll shoot to the stars for any boy that they see but, like, most of my friends I don't think any of them have thought about going passed just kissin' or something like that. Like most of my friends are afraid to go on." --Sam Eroe, 13.
   
"Going in and doin' one cheer by yourself was really hard. Cheerleading is important because I'm really good at it and it meant a lot to me. When I didn't make the team this year it felt like the world had ended for me." --Cassandra Gillum, 13.
     
  
"I think I'd leave Wellston to go to college and stuff, but I'd like to come back here and live here and raise my family here. It’s a nice town to live in. There’s not a lot of crimes or nothing. I think my family would be safe here. I'd like to move if I had the chance to, like to a good enough job, but if I want a regular typical life, Wellston would be where I'd stay." --Chris Osborne, 13.
   
"Cheerleading is important to me because it's something I like to do and you give spirit to the school. I feel good that I'm in the sport." --Lindsay Boothe, 14.
   
"I like the gym. I was hiding there because that's where all the cool kids hang out." -–Caleb Smith, 13.
     
  
"Genna was talking about me, and Summer wanted to be in [the argument] too and everyone wanted to be in it too." -- Bobbi Ousley (far left), 13."“They are yelling at me ‘cause somebody said that I slept with Brandon Havens (brother of Summer). They were all yelling at me and they made me feel really sad. What they were saying to me is not true, but we are friends now." -- Genna Pierce (center), 13.
   
"I will cooperate with my group when we work on projects." Written 50 times as punishment.
   
"I think kinda, yeah, you do get judged on whether you wear brand name clothes or not, but I don't judge on that. We have probably three or four friends that are popular that don't wear Hollister and they can still sit at our lunch table." –Chris Osborne, 13.
     
  
"We play [quarters] because it gives us a chance to see how much pain we can inflict on each other. And we just think it’s fun." --Paul Petersen, 14.
   
"The hardest thing about school and sports is that I have to get my homework done, I did a lot of my homework in-between on the bus." --Melissa Writesel, 14.
   
"I enjoy track, it's a fun competitive sport and you learn a lot about yourself. I think track is a very good sport to play because everyone is nice and you don't have to worry about anybody being mean or pushy. It's all about doing your best, that's why I love the sport. But that day I had to run the 400 and I felt sick so I was crying." --Lacie Norris, 13.
     
  
"I think I look okay; I mean, I don't think I'm that pretty." --Kayla Graham, 13.
   
"My parents feel fine with me being with friends, and themselves being with them. But I don't like them around my friends, I am embarrassed by them; they do stupid stuff I don't like." -–Sam Rowley, 13.
   
"I mow lawns to make some extra money, but I usually end up running out of gas. So I have to spend what I earn mowing the lawn to pay for gas for the next lawn." --Steven Coon, 13.
     
  
"The reception is pretty bad down here. We don't get it well, there's a few places you can, but not Wellston, but we all have cell phones." -- Sarah Simpson, 13.
   
"We would usually eat at Burger King [after track meets.] I always eat fast food. I love fast food because it is good, cheap, and you can get it fast. I liked the competition in track, but it's hard losing." --Danielle Bennett, 13.
   
"I just pick what [clothes] I like and if it's comfortable. Well, I get advice from magazines and celebrities. I read seventeen, Cosmogirl, Teen Magazine...then there's BOP. That's where I get all the posters for my wall." --Mary Choate, 13.
     
  
"We dance more with our friends, but we slow dace with our boyfriends! It's more important to dance with the ladies! I don't really like the dances, but this one was a big one" --Shannon Tipton, 14.
   
2004-2005