Imagine you are in class and must put your phone in high pocket. As hard as you try, you just can’t reach it. All your other classmates are waiting behind you to put their phones up, and getting annoyed that you’re taking a while. “One more try”, you think to yourself and go on your tiptoes to try to reach it. You stretch your arm the highest it can go, but still, you can’t reach the pocket! You sigh in defeat and turn around to hand your phone to a classmate to put it up for you. This imaginary scenario is an everyday reality for West Seattle sophomore Ada Rutman.
Ada is 4’9’’ and has always been the shortest person in her class. She is a Seattle native, and an Aquarius. Ada doesn’t regard being short as one of her defining traits, but everyone around her seems to. People often remark on how short she is, and in middle school, people would tease her about her height, asking things like “What’s your shoe size?” and “How’s the weather down there?”
Although Ada has kept a strong will in the face of such comments, she told me that occasionally, they do impact her. “Sometimes it does affect me when people tease me, but like, at the end of that day it’s not that serious and people don’t mean it in a bad way. It depends on who it comes from and how they do it. It’s just like… aghhh.”
Now, no one has bullied or incessantly teased Ada, but she still got the occasional rude comment. She is also a big concert fan, but at general admission concerts, she often finds herself barely or completely unable to see.
However, when Ada began her freshman year, things started to get better for her. Everyone seemed to be too focused on themselves and their own identities to pick on hers. Things were looking up for her… until sophomore year. Seattle Public Schools decided to adopt a new cell phone policy, which entailed using “phone calendars” A.K.A calculator holders for students to put their phones in during class. A “cell phone calendar” is made up of several rows of pockets and usually hung on a wall. In most classes, due to her last name’s place in the alphabet, she puts her phone in a relatively low pocket. This is the case in every class but her first period, where her teacher makes her put her phone in the very top row of the cell phone calendar.
You may be thinking, “That’s fine, she can just ask a classmate to help her put her phone up.” Sure, Ada could do that, but to her, asking for help to put her phone up is like admitting defeat. She wants to be able to put her phone in the cell phone calendar herself, just like every other kid in her class. Although many people offer to help her, like her desk mates, she wants to be able to prove to herself that she can do it. Maybe not necessarily in a physical sense, but definitely in a mental and spiritual way. Ada told me she believes, “At the end of the day, being short is a mindset. If I think tall thoughts, I think I stand taller in people’s minds. Like, it’s about the attitude and not thinking short thoughts.” Ada carries this sentiment with her throughout her everyday life.
As stated, there are many downsides to Ada’s height, but there are also a few upsides. For example, Ada is extremely good at Hide n’ Seek because she can fit herself into small spaces. At big festivals, events, or parades, she can weave through large crowds. Plus, “Some may say I’m adorable, or small and delicate. I’m petite.” she says when asked about the other perks to being short.
Ada said if she could be any taller, she would like to be at least 2 or 3 inches taller, but at the end of the day, being short is a part of Ada’s identity, and she loves herself just the way she is. She doesn’t mind having to ask a friend to help her put her phone up as long as she uses a tall mindset.
