"It was 2003, a mere 7 years ago, and although trends may not have changed much, I was clearly not aware of what they were at that time. This picture was taken in 8th grade, before I'd heard of hairstyling products, contacts, or eyebrow waxing. Yes, I am wearing a white tank top over a black t-shirt. And yes, I have on a shoelace choker and rainbow hoops. No, my glasses don't fit my face, and yes, my hair is flipped on only one side. But to be fair, I was focusing on my career! This picture was taken on a further unflattering white background so that I could make a homemade press pass for articles I was writing to get into the high school newspaper program in a year. Now, I am an English and journalism major and am hopefully better looking?" --Morgan
"This picture was taken during my sixth grade graduation. This was the year that I started getting the classic chubby cheeks that make middle school the most awkward period for boys, not to mention that I had big glaring braces at the time. I was also lazy and semi-addicted to Sega Genesis, so that did not help with the chubbiness. Middle school was probably the most awkward period in my life, which is ironic in itself because I spent some time being a middle school social studies teacher. I shaped up by becoming playing ice hockey competitively. I now spend my days trying to fend off guy-crazy girls in my high school classroom. The after picture is me with my beautiful niece." --Jake
After the jump: Jake (who's a little bit Michael Cera up there, right?) today...
"This picture was taken when I was about 12 yrs old in Washington, IL. I have very naturally curly hair plus I had birthmarks, one of which was on on scalp so my hair was white in the front. Because of this "streak" in my hair people called me 'Skunk' or 'Pepe Le Pew'...... not the best nicknames to have to grow up with." --Teri
"This was my senior year in high school. Since then, I've dropped about 60 lbs, embraced the eternal straightness of my hair (just not the color), and got contacts. Whether this ends up in the Perms, Glasses or, if there is one, the 'Subway Sandwich Diet' categories, I leave to your discretion. Oh, and the kid isn't mine. He's my friend's. But the tattoo (in the after photo) is mine." --Ivy
"Obviously this was a school picture for which nothing beats big bangs coupled with crimped hair! And I know you can't tell from the picture but I was most certainly wearing stirrup pants under that stylish sweater that was super long (like was "cool" back then). Sad thing is, I actually fit in with my group of friends in this get-up." --Kara
