John Zepke

John Zepke: I was never a social person. Flashes of tear welling up in my eyes and quivering lips over the mundane task of shopping still haunt me when I curl up in bed. The paralyzing fear of judgment which stemmed from my religious upbringing, impeded my ability to enjoy being comfortable in my own skin; however, it was a particularly crippling disability then when I was suddenly transplanted to Wadmalaw Island, where it was practically impossible to escape any excursion without running into relatives, teachers, friends, or congregation members—practically the whole community. Try as I might, the enveloping neon orange hoodie with shades only made me more conspicuous—and cousin Elaine’s hugs more inviting when she spotted the lumbering broomstick hovering next to my stocky grandmother. Really, I should’ve caught on that Charleston’s sweltering heat, that I so often grumbled about being unbearable, was compounded by my ridiculous attire. Somehow, despite the seclusion of Wadmalaw Island and my home in general, hordes of relatives visited so frequently that I almost …show more content…
Unbelievably, I pigeonholed myself as an awkward, bookworm because I became so worried about others’ expectations and conformity, that it never crossed my mind that those minute and significant distinctions are aberrations which give me my identity. The laconic blunder from the Wadmalaw was only a persona to please. The real John was unapologetically proud to pour hours of time into our high school textbooks to complete the busywork assigned to a supposedly honors class, to the chagrin of others. The real John was unafraid to commandeer political debates and discussions with my unpopular, progressive ideas, to the chagrin of others. The real John was finally starting to resemble someone who I really wanted to be, to the chagrin of others, and for that, I’m eternally grateful to the people of Wadmalaw. John