The Awkward Phase

The Uplifting Tales of those Weird Kids You Went to School With

This project was born in the breakroom at the Museum of Science and Industry. My coworker, Tyler Gillepsie, and I used our unpaid lunch breaks to create a Tumblr called The Awkward Phase. Folks submitted pieces about the most awkward times in their life and how it shaped them into the people they are today. We also encouraged them to send in photos of the time and would help them edit their pieces. The Tumblr took off nearly overnight and became a live storytelling show and was published through Skyhorse Books.

“I broke away from my parents and ran towards Minnie. If my hair had been longer than my bowl cut, it would have blown in the wind. Instead, my hair just sat on top of my head, like always, Minnie didn’t seem to care. My best friend threw her hands up in the air to hug me. While still running, I stretched my arms out to mimic her greeting.

Then it happened.

With those beautiful white gloves, Minnie clutched at her neck. I halted. Vomit started to trickle out of a slit I’d never noticed before. My role model took off her head. Minnie projectile vomited.”