My how times have changed. To be honest, I don’t know where this was taken, but it
definitely wasn’t at my house. I think that this was taken when I was 13. I got a guitar for my
birthday and I thought I was a total badass. I loved that guitar, I’m pretty sure my Dad bought it
at a pawn shop for under $50. I remember my band at the time auditioned for the middle school
talent show. I used that guitar and played my angsty heart out. The vice principal of our middle
school said we were too metal for the show, we didn’t make the cut. Back then though, I took
that as a win. Now it’s just embarrassing.
-Esley Buss
When I was 12, I made my first Facebook account, even though I was below the age limit (Don’t tell Mom!) When I wanted a profile pic, I really wanted to look “cool,” so I put my hands behind my head, and tried to stick a “laid-back” pose. Years later, all I can do is cringe at how young and stupid I looked. A couple of years ago, I deleted my old account, but that profile pic was also used for some music site called “Beat100.” I don’t know how to access that account, as I believe it was under an old e-mail, but it’s the first image that pops up once you Google search my name, so my dumb 12-year old face will be stuck there forever.
-Eric McInnis
My first profile picture was one of my then-boyfriend and I. As you can see, we were very much in love, and had a truly wonderful relationship… Well, as wonderful as you can expect a relationship in middle school to go. My ex is an actor, and he had been acting for a while. I knew he was special when I first saw him in his action-packed superhero movie. I couldn’t stop thinking about how strong he was, and when he busted out those shark-teeth, I practically melted. I had posters of him all over my bedroom, and made sure to place the biggest one on the ceiling right above my bed. Then he came out with his second movie -a series of movies, actually- and when I saw him shirtless, I knew I had to claim him before some rowdy, hormonal teenager would. So, I flexed my graphic design abilities and made a profile picture that would surely tell those homewreckers whose mans he was. Once I did this, every girl out there would know that he was mine, and not to cross me! Unfortunately, the relationship didn’t last long. I mean, I was going into eighth grade, I had to think about my future! I couldn’t be held back by someone whose “profession” was being an actor. I needed someone practical in my life. With a heavy heart, I changed my profile to picture to an overly edited photo of me wearing aviators, and said goodbye. I never heard from him again. I’ve been single ever since. –Julia Lunavictoria
Circa 2010! An image of a young girl at one of her first concerts, which I attended with my mother. I was a diehard Never Shout Never fan, and if you’re around my age and had a “scene” phase you know exactly who I’m talking about. I remember spending a good penny of my mom’s money on meet and greet tickets, and waited hours outside the venue before the show started. The meet and greet lasted about 7 minutes and I quickly snapped this glorious photo before my time was up!
-Audrey Ford
Yikes. Have you ever looked back at old Facebook photos (of course you have) and wanted to obliterate the internet as a whole? Let me start by saying this was in middle school, naturally. I got my neighbor to bleach the underside of my hair, loaded too much makeup on my face, and proceeded to find an angle that is possibly the angstiest, most middle school angle that exists. My teacher called me “edgy” one time in seventh grade, so obviously I had to live up to that. I watched too many “scene/emo look” videos in my free time, as you can see. And possibly the most inspiring thing would have to be that this didn’t stop until right before high school. I spent years of my life dedicated to black eyeliner, and for that, I am sincerely sorry. Someone should have told me. Why did no one tell me? Thanks, mom.
-Allora Lee
Even back when I was 11, I knew I was cool. So cool, in fact, that I had to have a shirt clarifying it for anyone who suspected otherwise. I would say not much has changed since the time of this picture. I still have some of the most adorable red cheeks this side of the nation has ever seen. I still have a natural mushroom haircut, except now I brush it to the right every morning in some desperate attempt to hide it. I still am absurdly skinny enough that short sleeve tee-shirts bring out my skeleton. But more than any of that, I’m still Mr. Cool.
-Paul Ippolito
I think this picture was taken in Washington D.C. at the Mandarin Oriental, I’m unsure why I was there, but I remember buying that sweater a few weeks prior. I thought I was so cool because I had just gotten a new phone (an LG Envy) and then a few a days later I lost it in the fitting room of a Kohl’s, and it was never to be seen again. My mom was pissed. Honestly, I’m unsure of what other life events surrounded this picture, but I’m damn glad I got rid of those glasses.
-Callie Lutter
In 2009 I was in California with my aunt and four cousins, which I guess somewhat explains why I was sitting in a park having my photo taken with bug eyed sunglasses at eleven years old, but really there’s no excuse. It was not until a whole year later, in 2010, when I decided to make this lovely photo my facebook profile picture. It was a huge hit, with a singular like and one comment saying, “that looke fun :)” because really what could looke more fun than sweating in 90 degrees with two barrets holding back my side bangs? Nothing, nothing could.
-Allie Nye
Here is one of my very iconic profile pictures from my middle school era.There is so much to dissect. Let’s start with
the photo that I unnecessarily changed to sepia. Circa 2010 is when the “selfie” trend took off, and a bunch of new poses were created along with it. One of the most classic and recognizable was the duck face. I put my own spin on it by looking up at the ceiling and throwing up a peace sign. Not only did I hand sign peace, I also added the peace sign shape, along with the actual word. Never enough peace. The word love and and the kiss mark represent my nonexisting romances at the time. And just it case the people on my Facebook didn’t know who I was from this photo, I slapped my name on there real big with a nice all caps distressed font. Now a graphic design major, I cringe at this mess of a design. But it’s cool to know I was thinking about how to work font, imagery, and formatting into a design at such a young age!
-Rachel Hirsch
This photo was taken during my scene phase prime. I was very into the style and I saw so many
photos just like this with the hand over the mouth and random phrases written on their hands so
I thought, why not? I felt “in” at the time, and I was very impressed with how “scene” I looked.
Looking back it is very cringey to look at, but I also find it funny. I’m still the same in some ways
and still enjoy the scene, or I guess wannabe scene, style. However, I don’t think I should be
taking photos like that ever again.
-Lashanna Bryant
In 2010, my family went on a four-week cross country trip around the United States and somehow found ourselves in a taxidermy shop. I don’t know which is more strange: the fact that we spent the day there or the fact that I thought it was funny to pose with a dead turkey “cuz I’m a turkey too.”
-Leah Mangold
There are many things I’m not proud of, and my profile pictures circa 2012 are all of them. There’s a story about the first one: I told my little sister that they were making a Mario game about me. She believed it.
Fun fact: these are still on my Facebook, albeit hidden from everyone but me.
-Lana Valente
Who didn’t love Vampires and text over pictures on 2011. This photo has made an appearance as my Facebook profile picture several times. Clearly I had too much time on my hands between softball practice and middle school drama. How else could I show my devotion to team Edward?
-Brittany VanOsten
