How Much of Yourself Have You Shrunk to Fit In?

Just Julia · Sep 10, 2026 · 6m · transcript

When I was around ten years old, I was the tallest girl in my class.

Actually, for a while, I think I was taller than almost everyone. Girls and boys.

At school, whenever we had to walk somewhere together, the teachers would put us in a line according to height. Shortest at the front, tallest at the back.

I knew exactly where I belonged.

At the very end.

I hated it.

I was growing quickly, and most of my friends were much shorter than me. So when I walked beside them, I would bend down to talk to them. My shoulders would curve forward. My head would come down.

I don’t remember consciously…