It's My Life

It's My Life

I am a skateboarder. When I say that statement to others, I wonder what they are thinking of me. Do I step up a level higher in someone's eyes, or do I represent the scum of youth, a dirty vulgar punk? My experience reveals both of these cases, so an adequate question about skateboarding arises: what is so controversial about this activity, how come some people can not stand us, while others gather to watch our competitions and cheer us in the streets? I do not question myself about my nature - I am whatever I am, but for some reason I am still a "bad guy" in the eyes of law enforcement officers.

One day I went out to skate with my friends. We carefully picked a spot and time to practice - a deserted parking lot near some bank not far from the river. It was about 8 pm, and we assumed that the business is closed due to the absence of cars. After about 10 minutes of warm-ups a police car stormed from around the corner: not a good sign. The cop did not look friendly at all; as a matter of fact, he was very angry. After he took our identification cards, he told us to remain still because "the situation [was] pretty serious". In the next 3 minutes two other patrol cars showed up, and we have witnessed the process of protecting and serving the community. First of all, someone asked me about the purpose of our visit to the parking lot; my answer was obvious - skateboarding. Then another officer questioned me and two of my friends about drugs and guns. To be exact, he asked if we had any. The answer was negative. It was a wrong answer because all of a sudden they pinned us to our cars and searched immediately. Because nothing suspicious had been found, cops decided to search the car. Again, they had nothing to be happy about - we were clean. Officers left immediately without any apologies, and we were left wondering about their visit. We were very confused because they did not even tell us to leave the parking lot. Instead, they just pointlessly showed up, yelled, searched us and left. I think that they did a pretty "good" job protecting and serving.

Unfortunately it is not the only example that I can share about discriminating against skaters. I have been yelled at; I have been verbally offended, but I have always been smart enough to avoid physical confrontation simply by walking away. It seems to me that some people just can not stand skateboarders! But at the same time no-one has a right to think of me as some dirty and careless punk and the destroyer of property just because I skateboard.

As an opposition to this punkish-looking skater, does an intelligent type actually exist? Well, I would never be so confident to call myself a clever person, but all of my friends and relatives consider me to be very smart. My GPA proves it too - 3.65 is an achievement that I am proud of and still planning to raise. Of course, I might be an exception from hundreds of other skateboarders, but even a single exception creates a statistics: not all teenagers who are fond of extreme activities are dumb and rude.

At the same time, I would not have considered myself a skater if I wouldn’t have accepted some traits of traditional skate-culture. For the longest time skateboarding was closely related to punk rock music, and I have to agree that there is a significant amount of guys and even girls who represent the lowest classes of society and skateboard at the same time. They think of themselves as true punks - absolutely careless and, therefore, happy; they are sometimes dirty and unattractive. Their lives are entirely built around drugs, sex, and rock’n’roll. Don’t forget skateboarding! I would never question but would have to deal with the existence of such people. More than that, I’m happy that they are around us because they represent the living example of what I would hate to become, while actually enjoying my biggest hobby.

But things are not as bad as they might seem. There are quite a few skateboarders who have found a golden middle between extreme elements of punk culture and the existence as the so-called “nerds”. They call themselves “freaks”, and they are very common among ordinary teenagers. Their black outfits, heavy chains, dark tastes, and grim attitudes sometimes come along with sensitive personalities. Those “freaks” try to become more different and rebellious than others, and that is the only reason why they look like that. Therefore, they also skateboard. This activity has not yet gained its peak of popularity, which, I predict, is going to happen in next 10 years. Indeed, according to Transworld Skateboarding magazine, the popularity of skateboarding grew an astonishing 150% last year and is still on the rise. More than that, girls are as much interested in this activity as guys (of course, in equal proportions) are (Transworld Skateboarding). As for me, I’ve known only a couple of girls who skated, and to tell the truth, they were not that good at it. However, there are several female pro-skaters, even though they are all concentrated in California.

But despite the location where pro-skaters, both male and female, live and despite their appearances, everyone has to admit that this sport requires tremendous efforts and hard practice. This is another common stereotype of a typical skateboarder, but this time I will definitely agree with it, - a skilled street or vert (vertical) skater is always in good shape and is capable of amazing the spectators with his performance. This is my goal - to be one of them; the above-mentioned characteristics not only attract but also fit me!

Just like any stereotype should not be baldly applied to a specific group of people, skateboarders should not be blamed by the society for all the problems that exist among us. It is not their fault that they look and behave the way the do; instead, we should learn to accept all kinds of people. I have made very good friends on the skate ground, and at the same time, like anywhere else, I cannot stand some of the other guys that skate there. Again, I do not make false assumptions about skaters in general, nor do I speak about all the people in general. I think instead, that there is always room for improvement and for adjustments in our behavior as skateboarders, and I will personally do my best to fit in. Meanwhile, we just have fun and skate. It is our life. Let us live it.

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Эта статейка - одно из моих заданий по английскому (English 102 - Composition II). Перед тобой, дружок, откорректированная версия. За эту статью я получил отличную оценку.

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