My Life as Told Through Shoes
Jasmine Liu
1) 7th Grade – Low-Top Galaxy Converse
As their name suggests, these were a pair of low-top Converse with a hazy blue and purple galaxy print. I bought them because the now-atrocious galaxy pattern had been somewhat trendy at the time. The first time I wore them to school, it felt like they were shining. Everyone turned to look as I walked down the crowded hallway, at least in my mind. A girl in the grade below me even gushed about how cute they were and asked where I had gotten them. They now sit in my garage, covered with dust and spiderwebs.
2) 9th Grade – Plain Black High-Top Converse
I bought these for a hip-hop dance performance that my instructor had coerced us into doing, despite us originally signing up to learn traditional Chinese dances. These standard black Converse high-tops were paired with a neon orange polyester top and black sequined pants that I thought resembled a trash bag. I plastered a toothy smile on my face, and my Converse-clad feet went through the movements of the dance. Though I am trying to repress my initial memory of these shoes, I still wear them from time to time due to their versatility.
3) 11th Grade – Plain Black Adidas Sneakers
My beloved Nike sneakers that I had worn since 7th grade had finally worn out, so it was time for a new pair of all-purpose sports sneakers. I bought a basic pair of black Adidas sneakers with the standard white stripes of the brand. Coincidentally, two other members of a club I was in owned the exact same pair of shoes. One of them was my co-president. “Nice shoes,” he had remarked when I first came in wearing them. I turned red and ignored him for the rest of the meeting. Since then, I have worn out two pairs of this type of shoe.
4) 12th Grade – Purple Slippers, Gift from Grandmother
This pair of knitted slippers was purple outside and green inside, but what they lacked in style, they made up for in comfort and warmth. My grandmother gave them to me as a gift when I last visited China in 2018. My family had planned to go back in 2020, but by then, the confines of my world had narrowed to the yellow, two-story house I lived in. I plodded around the house wearing these cozy slippers countless times that year, wondering what was in store for me during such an unpredictable time. My feet have outgrown those slippers, but I still keep them safely tucked in my closet.
5) Freshman Year of College – Heeled Ankle Boots
College was a fresh start, and as a business student at the time, I wanted to look more professional. Hence, I purchased a pair of black-heeled ankle boots. They did indeed make me look chic and polished, yet I wore them to class for the first and last time in the fall semester of my freshman year. I started the day with a surge of confidence as I strutted across campus, my heels clicking all the way. That confidence quickly depleted as my feet began feeling tinges of pain with every step, and I barely managed to stagger home at the end of the day. These boots now sit in the back of my closet at home. If I ever feel like breaking my ankles again for the sake of fashion, I may consider taking them back out.
6) Sophomore Year of College – Black and White Reebok Sneakers
I purchased these sneakers to replace the Adidas ones that were falling apart. The black and white design was consistent with my previous sneaker choices, but I branched out and bought from a different brand this time. The motivation to dress up every day at college had long since dissipated. I chose these sneakers because their comfort and practicality allow me to wear them on a daily basis. As a sophomore in college, I’m unsure of where exactly I’m headed in my life, but I’m okay with that. For now, I will just continue moving toward my future, step by step.
Jasmine Liu writes, “Hello! My name is Jasmine Liu, and I am majoring in Psychology and minoring in Chinese. I will graduate from Rutgers as part of the Class of 2025. I am from East Brunswick, NJ, and in my free time, I enjoy listening to music, writing in my journal, and watching kdramas. Though I stubbornly refuse to download TikTok, I spend an unhealthy amount of time scrolling on Twitter and Instagram.”
Jasmine wrote this memoir piece in a creative writing class taught by Professor Paul Blaney. Blaney selected this piece for inclusion in WHR.