A lot of times people I speak to are surprised once they find that I’m going into college. Even during my senior year in High school Sophomores thought I was a Freshman.
This is why I am kinda intimidated by “adults” I feel that they look down on me and don’t take me seriously. It’s affecting my self-confidence because I end up acting really shy and awkward. I don’t even feel like an adult.
So anyone had or have this problem? Or what do you think when you see a seemingly 13 yr old kid running around campus?
Note: Female here. My height doesn’t help and I’m too lazy to mess with make-up. Also, I still have acne.
Try working out. Work hard on dem glutes and legs. Also really work delts ( shoulders ) it makes your body look wider ( in a good way ). Trust me, working out (even lifting) won’t make you look like a dude and once you really get into it you’ll feel much better about yourself even if you still look a bit younger.
I think that it just sounds like my little sister heading to class. But seriously, I know it may be hard now, but you’ll like it later. Just try to say something when you associate with people that might indicate your age - talk about driving there. You’d have to be at least 16 to drive. Drop a remark about high school graduation or your college classes. Something like that.
I totally understand you, make up and everything, occasional acne. Teachers don’t seem to judge me, but sometimes other students won’t bother talking to me because they feel I can’t relate to them.
If I had your image (I’m jealous), time and time again I’d probably be screwed over in engineering interviews (hard to say if they hire out of the stereotypical 30 y.o. white male look or if those are just the majority that apply). Or maybe I’d stand out from the rest of the applicants and have a little fun once they see me in person.
And yes, I’ve met a college student that looks 12… The thoughts that go in your head: Is she really a part of ___ club? Do you know her / who is she (she can’t possibly be in ___ club)? And people might call you “young lady.”
~~Be involved and make some friends who will nicely introduce you to skeptical people. Work from there with your personality.
I look about 14 too, but I’m 17. My mom said I just look youthful like she does. And in 20 years I’ll appreciate it. You probably won’t be the only young looking student on campus.
My daughter is a rising HS senior and still gets handed crayons when she goes into restaurants. It really upsets her, but I tell her the same thing - she’ll be happy when she’s 40 and looks much younger.
Sadly, you must pay the price now to look 25 when you are 40…totally worth it;)
Some ideas, no facial hair!!! Just kidding…but, you may want to get less “lazy” about your look if you want the perception to change. You just don’t look 20 in jeans, a tee, a pony and no makeup. So maybe find 15 extra minutes each dat to put on some mascara and lip gloss, get a more sophisticated hairdo, still low maintenece, and no tees or sweats! Not fair, but you’ll face the same at 50…no old lady clothes or helmet head hair dos.
Next, upgrade your communication style a notch above your true age. “Kinda” is common among 18 y/o’s, but if you cut out the jargon and lazy speak, it will present more sophisticated.
I have the same problem. I am 5’3 and have an adolescent shape, so I am often mistaken by other people near my age as being two to three years younger than I actually am. However, most adults tend to overestimate my age because I act like an adult in adult situations. Try to be more confident and people will take you more seriously. My mom still gets carded and likes looking young, so there is karma involved (small people pay it forward). @JustOneDad if I wasn’t planning on fencing I would totally cox for Crew. Really good idea for small people who want to do sports and want to be taken seriously.
If you act like an adult, people will treat you like one. People will think whatever they think when they look at you, but it’s easy enough to correct assumptions when they actually speak to you or meet you. If you act and speak like a mature adult, you’ll be treated like one. If you act like a shy kid, it can be hard to treat you like anything else, but if you act serious, people will take you seriously. And, really, who cares what strangers think anyway?
My siblings and I all look pretty young for your ages. I’m in grad school, and people who don’t know me still think I’m in high school. But often people who have worked with me or spoken to me think I’m older than I actually am and are surprised at how young I am. I work in healthcare so I’m often judged by patients for looking young, but I’ve found that if I go in with confidence and authority, people will treat me that way. So with the people who matter–people you work with, speak with, meet, etc–your behavior and attitude are going to matter a lot more than your appearance.
My brother’s goal in life is to stop getting carded at bars, so he’s tried to dress up more often. That’s something you could try–dressing up a little more or whatever. I never bothered with it, but if you really feel that looking young is affecting you self-esteem, then that’s something you could try. I’m just so used to strangers thinking I’m young that it doesn’t even phase me anymore.
I’m a rising college sophomore and will be turning 20 in January. I’m female, barely 5’ (maybe just under), don’t wear makeup (except special occasions), and have severe acne.
I have found that the majority of people treat me just like the rest of the college students. It definitely does not come up in class. As long as I don’t act differently, people don’t seem to notice. And last year, I was in CS and math classes with sophomores and juniors, even seniors for math. I’d consider some of the sophomores and juniors friends (more the sophomores).
The only time I’ve noticed it on campus is when there are prospective student days on campus. Other students will ask me if I need help finding anything. I just tell them no and carry on my way. It’s not that big a deal to me, since I know they mean well. Sometimes deans, adcom members, or other administrators at prospective student functions might do the same, but when I tell them I’m a student, they’re always really apologetic and make it a point to learn my name and stuff about me (my majors, what I’m involved with on campus). If I see them again on campus another time, they’ll often say hello.
My friends and I sometimes joke about my height and things that go along with that (like the fact that I get mistaken for younger). I often tell them stories of things that have happened because of my height and we have a good laugh.
My son took a couple of college classes when he was 14. He’s not young looking for his age, maybe even a little old looking, but everyone assumed he was a freshman or sophomore simply because he was in a college class. Students are far less likely to start first grade at age 5 today, but it was common up through the sixties. I started college at 17 and even knew a few 16-year-olds. We all looked young because we were!