The Chairs I Talked To

I've always hated nicknames. When I was little, my dad tried to call me GG, which I quickly rejected, but unfortunately, even today, my mother calls me Lucka because of a conversation I had with a chair before I learned to read. In middle school, my friend began calling me G2, both because of my alliterating name and my "nerd" status. I had hoped to prevent another unfortunate nickname when I arrived at Cheshire Academy almost three years ago, by insisting that I be called by my given name. This backfired unexpectedly when my teachers and peers knew me, not as Grace Greene, but as GraceGreene. Despite initial reservations, I’ve become fond of the nickname, but that has less do with name, and more to do with the people that call me it. 

The chairs I talked to.

I've always enjoyed school. I like to get away from my house where my siblings always seem to be just a little too loud. I like quiet libraries and heated discussions. I like the routine. I like knowing that there's a place for me to be. My academic success can most likely be attributed to these feelings. I’ve always done well in school (I’m sorry it sounds like I’m bragging; I don’t mean to!). School has always been my “thing.”

I’ve never been good at sports or talking to people, but assign me a lab report and I’ll write you a good one. I’m better at written assignments than I am at any kind of presentation. I can yell at someone across a table in class, but put me in front of that same class with a presentation and I’ll start shaking.

I won’t be able to stand still or enunciate. Even though I’m terrified of public speaking, my afternoon activity of choice is theatre. Despite the trouble I have pacing my words and controlling my shaking hands, I am able to perform on stage because I can pretend that it’s not me standing in front of an audience. I am no longer Grace Greene; I’m Mauve, the butler, or Sagredo, an astronomer’s assistant. I’ve made great friends through theatre and some even greater friends through school. Both have helped me feel more comfortable around new people and also more comfortable with myself.

I spend a lot of time with my family. I have one older sister, one younger sister, and three younger brothers. I’m related to only two of them biologically. Our family picture is a little different than most, but in it, everyone’s smiling. In sixth grade when everyone decided they were too cool for their family, I remained really close with mine. 

My Family

I’m a homebody. I prefer weekends in and vacations spent lying in bed. I want to travel the world someday and leave a mark somewhere, but for now, my life is school, family, and sleep-usually in that order. Right now, my first love is sleep and I haven’t done anything world-altering yet, but I plan to one day. So take note now, Grace Greene, or GraceGreene, is going to be something soon, and she’s making her start in a Connecticut prep school surrounded by some really great people.