Photo Essays :: Stories: Stuck in the Middle
The junior high years are pivotal in forming identity; whether positive or negative this time period evokes a strong emotional response in all of us. These images at Wellston Middle School (WMS) in Wellston, Ohio reflects the universals of junior high while still capturing the essence of the specific location, Appalachia. It also shows that the nature of this time in their lives is more dictated by their emotional turmoil and social tensions, rather than practical issues.
![{quote}She [the girl sitting down] was talking about me, and Summer wanted to be in [the argument] too and everyone wanted to be in it, too.{quote} -- Bobbi Ousley (far left), 13.{quote}“They are yelling at me ‘cause somebody said that I slept with Brandon Havens (brother of Summer). They were all yelling at me and they made me feel really sad. What they were saying to me is not true, but we are friends now.{quote} -- Genna Pierce (center), 13.](http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebf4f0d6e/images/Wellston-016_thumb-2.jpg)
![{quote}We play [quarters] because it gives us a chance to see how much pain we can inflict on each other. And we just think it’s fun.{quote} --Paul Petersen, 14.](http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebf4f0d6e/images/Wellston-019_thumb-2.jpg)
![{quote}I just pick what [clothes] I like and if it's comfortable. Well, I get advice from magazines and celebrities. I read seventeen, Cosmogirl, Teen Magazine...then there's BOP. That's where I get all the posters for my wall.{quote} --Mary Choate, 13.](http://cdn.lightgalleries.net/4bd5ebf4f0d6e/images/Wellston-027_thumb-2.jpg)
