For all my life, I’ve been a nerd. I used to live off my notebook; now I live off Lolo, my beloved laptop. I have always gotten high grades and was one of the three original gifted students in my town. Teachers and parents recognize my writing abilities and praise me, but it’s not them I want to impress.
At my age, adults are accepting of people like me. I come off as responsible, innocent, perhaps even completely harmless. But my inner rebel is stirring, and a newer, stronger Luisa is emerging.
I can’t help but question it, though. This new Luisa: is she really me? She’s different from the Luisa that the kids at school know: the smart girl with the red-stripe glasses and the super short haircut. She’s even different from the Luisa I know: the one who gives people what they want, to the best of her ability. Who is she, anyway? This new me wants to dye her hair. She loves punk music and swears a little too much. Is this girl really me, or is she just another character I subconsciously created to please others?