PCC Students Share The Stories Behind Their Disfigurements

Brittany Wong, Asst. A & E Editor

The scars PCC students carry on their bodies have significance: That minor burn scar, sustained from some flight of fancy on the back of a motorcycle or that kidney bean-shaped chicken pox scar that only the ones you love are privy to.While it’s true that some are less meaningful, the way these students see it, every last millimeter of scar tissue is a worthy conversation piece. Some of the more meaningful scars belong to 18-year-old English major Josie Smith. “I used to be a cutter a few years back. Now I look at the scars from those days and know that I’m free from that baggage.It’s about letting go of emotional baggage,” she said. Student athletes casually show off their scars from on-court and on-field battle. Michael Harrigton, 21-year-old journalism major, counted off the nicks and knacks he’s received from football. “All my scars are from playing,” he said, as he shows various points of scar tissue on his arms and legs. “Except for this one,” he said, placing a digit on a tiny scar on his arm.“This is from the chicken pox.” The small of Harrington’s back is home to a mean surgery scar, the result of a weight lifting accident.“I had back surgery, so I had stitches up my spine. I was weight lifting 435 pounds – going up and down, squatting, and I dropped it. At first, I couldn’t walk from the pain. Nine months later I had my back surgery, but until then I was walking Frankenstein-style, stooped over like this,” he said, slumping his body over in mock monster pose.Predictably, scars from bouts of childhood stupidity are just as commonplace as sports-related ones. “I have one you can’t really see from elementary school. We were ironing leaves for Christmas ornaments and some guy dropped the iron cord and it fell on me,” said Claire Phan, 19, undeclared.Jalessa Jimenez can also blame a schoolmate for a scar. “I have a childhood scar on my ring finger. Some other kid hit me with a Barbie doll,” she said.Anthony Gonzalez, 19, undecided, blames a Hot Wheels toy car that wouldn’t bend to his will. “I have a scar on the back of my head and one on my hand. I got the one on my hand when I was a kid. I was playing with a Hot Wheels, trying to cut off the top of the car to make it into a convertible. I slipped and this scar is proof of that,” he said, showing a scar that extends from wrist to the bottom of his palm.Vladimir Artunia, 18-year-old engineering major, has an odd scar tale to tell. “Some chick bit me,” he said.“I did it,” volunteered his friend, 19-year-old and undeclared Jalessa Jimenez, smiling and baring her pearly white accomplices.Why?“He was annoying me.”So, you bit him?“Twice,” she said, with a chilling amount of pride.Artunia’s got it under control, though. “Yeah, I’m not going to treat it with anything. I’ll let it heal itself. I live naturally,” he said.Zach Falldorf, 18-year-old business major, gave himself a scar, on a whim inspired equal parts by the Divine and boredom.“I burned a cross into my left arm with a cigar torch. I was bored, but I also love Jesus. I went to Catholic school. It didn’t hurt. I have a high tolerance for pain. If you give me a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick, I won’t feel a thing,” he boasted.Lauren Zeni, 18-year-old theater arts major, has a whole body full of scars. “I was riding my bike without a helmet, coming down from the top of the hill. I tried to stop, but I failed miserably. I had to get five staples in my head and I have abrasions all along the right side of my body. I skinned part of my head, so I didn’t have hair for a while. And I chipped a tooth,” she said, as if the tooth was part of a painful package deal. “I break a lot,” she said, having duly confirmed the fact.