It is a serious issue that I have had to work on for years to overcome, but I am not afraid to say it anymore. I am and always have been short. Being vertically challenged is an issue that affects a large percent of Americans, and we have yet to find a cure other than footstools and high heels. According to a quick Google search, “short” for females means you are under 5’4″ or 5’10” for males. Here are a few of the challenges of being an ISU student who falls under the “must be this tall to ride” line at amusement parks. 

1. Sports

Just picture it. You are at a basketball or football game trying to cheer on your team. The whole crowd is on their feet watching every move of the team, which is exactly what you are trying to do. The fans in front of you just happen to be a foot and a half taller. Then it hits you, you can just stand on your seat! This usually works quite well until you accidentally slip off with excitement or the mammoth in front of you decides that it is a great idea and gets on their seat too. Then you’re right back to where you started. 

2. Lofted dorm beds

Sometimes, you have the misfortune of your bed being stuck right between two walls so there is no way to really use the frame for assistance in getting into bed. Ladders and step stools are a great tool, when you have room for them. If not, you are often stuck with the pole vaulting approach. This is the method in which a short person will use all of their arm strength to hold onto the bed while they swing their legs up and around into the bed. Instead, if you are pint-sized yet flexible, you can attempt to touch your foot to your forehead then just drop your foot onto your bed and hope you can get the rest of your body up there with it. If nothing else, the floor isn’t that bad of a place to sleep. It can also be pretty cozy if you’re used to being down lower anyway.

3. Intensity

It can be very difficult to be taken seriously in college when you look like you escaped from a local middle school. Walking with or having many friends who fall on the average side of the height scale can tend to make you look even shorter. One possibly helpful tip is to drop your voice a half octave. At least then you’ll be a small person with a big voice. Another tip is to take advantage of every podium you can find. Nobody can see what you’re standing on behind there and that’s nobody’s business. The only thing to remember with podiums is to avoid stepping down until the room has cleared out to maintain your full dignity.

To all my fellow mini-ISU students out there, stay strong and invest in lots of stools. What a ruler might say, has no bearing on what is in our hearts.