The average height for men is 5’ 7.5” and for women, it is 5’ 3”, according to Our World in Data. As averages imply, there are some deviations from these numbers, which is not an exception at LZHS. 

Cibi Vadivel, sophomore, is 6′ 5” and still growing. More than half a foot taller than the men’s average height, Vadivel says his height comes with both bad and good experiences.

“[The worst thing is] not being able to fit in places you wouldn’t expect. Even the desks that they have at school are troublesome to get into. [Also], when [you] make [eye] contact with another tall person in a hallway, it’s always really uncomfortable. And you’re easily spotted. So that’s bad,” Vadivel said. “You have to stop playing hide and seek years earlier than other people because you just don’t fit anywhere anymore. And when you’re flying, you have to get the extra legroom.”

However, Vadivel says he would “rather be tall than short” because in his mind, the positives greatly outweigh the negatives.

“If somebody needs [something that’s out of reach], they come to you [for help],” Vadivel said. “Being tall also gives you an advantage in so many sports, even if you’re not athletic. You’re just immediately better than people who would be shorter than you are with similar amounts of experience.”

But according to Vadivel, this does not mean that growing up tall was easy. Ever since grade school, Vadivel says that he has always been the tallest in his class, which led him to be insecure at times. However, since those years, Vadivel says he has changed his perspective towards his height. 

“In elementary school, everybody [was] kind of mean. I would be called ‘Tree.’ I was a little insecure about my height,” Vadivel said. “But then in middle school, I was like, ‘this isn’t that bad.’ And then now in high school, I kind of accepted it and [now I] try to look at the positives.”

Audrey Hilker, sophomore, shares a different perspective as a short person at the height of 5’1”. 

“I’m fine [with being short]. It’s not like I do anything that requires me to have any sort of height. It doesn’t affect me in any way,” Hilker said.

In fact, Hilker says that the majority of her experiences with height are positive, especially when it comes to finding clothes that fit. Being tall can pose a number of problems when you’re trying to find the right clothing size, but Hilker says being short has helped her avoid that problem.

“[Tall people] can never find pants that fit properly, or sweaters that fit properly,” Hilker said. “I’ve never had that issue.” 

Nonetheless, Hilker has never had a share of negative experiences regarding her height. 

“People make fun of me for [my height]. Even people around my height make fun of me. But at this point, I am so used to [being made fun of for my height] so it doesn’t affect me,” Hilker said. 

Despite growing accustomed to all of the jokes, Hilker recalls a period of time where she was not so pleased with it. 

“At first it was more annoying than anything because [the] people making fun of me weren’t that much taller, but [now], they recognize that they’re also not super tall,” Hilker said. “So it’s like some sort of weird, silent agreement. I’ve grown to accept it at this point.”

Aside from being made fun of for being short, Hilker says that her hallway experience is different than Vadivel’s. 

“Most of the time, [I see] either heads or chests. I don’t know why, but people in the school are either slightly taller than me or like skyscrapers. There’s no in between. So, I’m constantly being shoved around,” Hilker said.

Even though Hilker’s experiences in the hallway are can be more aggressive than Vadivel’s, she says that she can “get through things easier because [she] can weave better [through people].” 

One thing that she cannot do easily however, is sports. Unlike Vadivel, she says she does not have the advantage of height, which majorly helps in a variety of sports. 

“I think it’d be cool to be able to dunk a basketball. It’d be fun to experience, not somebody having to lift me up in order to do it,” Hilker said.

Although there are some limitations to her height, Hilker says that overall her experience with her height remains positive. 

“I think if you were to ask me a couple years ago, if I wanted to grow [more], I would’ve been like ‘Yes, I want to be so much taller. I don’t like being so short.’ Now, it is what it is. It’s not the end of the world,” Hilker said. 

Coming from her many experiences, Hilker has some advice for other short people.   

“If you’re wishing [to] be taller, it’s probably not going to happen. This sounds mean, but you need to just suck it up,” Hilker said. “Your height isn’t going to change and unless you’re 5’1” and you want to be a basketball player, your height isn’t going to stop you from doing anything.”