My treasure chest of rediscovered old photographs included a copy of my high school yearbook graduation shot and a candid picture taken by a fellow photography student my freshman year in college.
High school graduation photo, with bad hair.
Man, was I uptight for the graduation shot for my high school yearbook.
How I left the house that day with my hair pressed so closely to my head, I’ll never know. Except my pretty good guess is that this is the way I left the house every day my senior year in high school.
It’s more than my hair.
Call me innocent and slightly frightened about what lies ahead.
I do believe I like the suit jacket, though.
I know I was right to be tense about my senior year at Ward Melville High School. Running through my mind: Would I get a date for the prom? Would I get accepted to the only college on my list? Would I prosper away from the daily pressures applied by my parents?
First semester at college, and it’s a new me.
Fast forward one year to this second shot.
This college freshman has taken the opportunity provided by living in a dorm to quickly grow out the hair, and move the part to the middle.
It was more than my hair.
I can see a more relaxed teen glad to be hanging out with a fellow journalism student who wanted to take a shot for a shared photography class.
I appear confident during my first year at SUNY Morrisville that I’ll make more positive changes, and quickly.
I do believe I like this fall jacket, too.
And, you know what?
I was right in the optimism reflected in my new hairstyle, my relaxed face, my confident stance.
I would flourish in this environment away from home. The changes I had made were just the beginning of my rewarding college years.
What year of your life do you think you changed the most? What did you do to change? Did it turn out well?
Mark Bialczak 
I love seeing old pics and the way we evolve. You definitely look more at ease in the informal shot. I had blonde and brown hair in high school, then dabbled with red and black in college, so I know hair can make a huge difference. So glad you were able to flourish!
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So you, too, announced your independence with your hair. Nice, Kerbey. Red and black at the same or different times?
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Black first, then red, then blonde again. No piercings or tattoos; nothing you couldn’t change in a day…
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No piercings or tattoos for me, either, Kerbey.
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Love old photos Mark. The biggest change for me came with my divorce. On my own legally for the first time and living my own life with no one I had to account to for my actions. Life started to be fun again and it only gets better every year. It is funny how you changed your style in one year. I almost choked on my cola when I saw the high school photo. And I really hate shooting cola out my nose 🙂
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Yes, I was sort of tight in the high school shot. Good thing I loosened up in college, Angie.
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Nice pictures Mark! One half of each picture was covered by an ad. Bummer.
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Now that should not happen PJ. Really?! Makes me steamed.
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PJ, I have discovered that my site is part of a new ad platform that indeeds slide an ad over pictures. If this happens again, if you look at the corner of the box with the ad, there will be an ‘x.’ Click on the ‘x’ and the ad will vanish. I hope this works for you. Thanks for mentioning it.
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1988 – it changed everything and then 1991 destroyed it. It took too long to rebuild but time and love and bouts of denial and hiding out all managed to intact long enough to heal.
By the way in Australia that part is called the Bum-part – just thought I should let you know.
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I am glad you got through the Bum-part, Jenni. The healing makes you stronger, right?!
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[snort] I meant the part on your hair silly – it’s called a bumpart here in Aus.
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Well now I understand. Slow, silly American reporting in here for Aussie lessons, Jenni. I do not have enough hair for a bumpart anymore, so I am not bald, but bumpartless.
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Good to know – it is considered a rather less than attractive trait usually associated with the name Mervon or Myran and pocket protectors that or boys VB tinnies and souped up Monaros with the pre-requisite fluffy dice from review mirror.
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No bumparts for me, Jenni, ever again.
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😀
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these are both great pics, mark and illustrate what you are saying so well. it’s like two sides of a coin. i think that i really didn’t come into my own until i was divorced, honesty. only then did i begin to fully grow into the woman i am today. it was a challenging journey at times, but all worth it. great post.
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It was like a flip switched for me moving out of my parents house, Beth. I suppose that’s what it may have like for you, too, back when you went out to become a single mom. Good for you, my friend.
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thanks mark, it was only then that i really began to grow. good for you too, mark )
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Very nice. You haven’t changed a bit. Neither have I. Giggle.
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It’s nice to have a special mirror, Audrey!
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It is…do you like it? It’s red, as you can see. LOL
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Of course it is red, Audrey. You wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, indeed.
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Correct! Wow. Nice!!
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I don’t want to bombard you with too many comments on your posts, but I’m diggin’ the pictures and throwback posts… nothing short of cool and confident.
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Fire away, Chris, and it seems like a pleasant volley, not an annoying bombardment, so you know. I think I needed some confidence now to post that high school yearbook shot!
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Fantastic post Mark. I can see the changes. And you truly look more comfortable in the second shot. I was probably thirty ish when I had my biggest changes. They did work out. I think of me before that time and have a difficult time seeing myself!
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Yay, more old pics! These are great and I love your commentary as well, Mark. You do look more relaxed and comfortable in your fall jacket. But both shots are priceless!
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I certainly was glad to grow up my own way, Sandra. Thanks for the kind words, as always, my friend.
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Love this post, Mark. I hope I’m still flourishing, wherever I am. If I’m not, it’s time for a change.
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I think you are doing quite well, Ann.
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