Sports editor deals with "short"comings

I believe in learning a lot about yourself during your time at a university. It happens naturally, like when all of a sudden you enjoy a television program you never took the time to watch back home, or when you get a first taste of Ultimate Frisbee. Over time, you also learn what your strengths are and how to use them to overcome your "downfalls."

After two years at A&M-Commerce, I've finally learned how to get over something I'll probably have to overcome the rest of my life: I am small.

And I don't mean in only height. Let's just say when I have to do clothes shopping –which I hate – I'm required to go on an hours long safari in search of elusive men's size 29 or 28, shifting through dozens of size 30s, 32s, and 34s, unwilling to traverse into the dreaded "youth" section. I'm not exactly the person you'd call to do any sort of heavy lifting either.

I can forget about building any muscle or weight as well. Years of running and playing soccer have my metabolism in overdrive. Would you believe I actually lost weight when I came to college? I'd been holding steady at about 138 pounds since freshman year in high school, only to drop below 130 pounds by the time my sophomore year at Commerce was complete.

What's up with that?

More than just a physical issue, it's caused a few mental walls as well. Seeing all the taller, bigger and obviously stronger men on campus doesn't exactly give me a confidence boost. Plus, it's nature's law for the ladies to be attracted to males who are larger and more muscular. This is science, and although for humans it's not as common as it is in the true animal kingdom, it certainly doesn't help.

There are even studies that show taller, larger people will both literally and mentally "look down" on someone smaller. It's just naturally easier to throw your weight around.

I suppose I could try harder to become bigger, and probably succeed in time. I know my friends have already started a workout program. I could easily become a part of it, although I feel the actual weight lifting wouldn't come so easily. I could probably drink those absolutely disgusting protein shakes, or better yet find someone with the hook-up on campus and pull a Barry Bonds. Someone on campus or in the Commerce/Greenville area has to have some sort of "roid" connection.

The thing is, I just plain don't want to. Would any extra incentive from changing my outer appearance really benefit me?

I'd still be the same person, still feel the same things, yet I'd be doing twice the work.

So, I've just learned to deal with my, quite literal, shortcomings by accentuating one thing I feel I have a lot of – determination. Sure, a few things in life might come easier if I were bigger, but they are still achievable in my 126-pound, 28-inch waist human shell.

My advice to all the fellow small people out there: have a lot of heart. If you can't be noticed for physical stature, you might as well be recognized for using what you've got for every last thing it's worth.