While some people can venture out into the bright outdoors without a care in the world, others are not so lucky. There are some people who can’t face the hot and unforgiving sun without one very important accessory- sunscreen. I am one of these people, fated to an eternal existence of being a shade slightly darker than straight up white. This leads to a life of freckles, frustration, and more aloe vera than you would believe.

Fall is probably the most forgiving time for your average pale person. Shorts are officially out, so jeans and leggings make their entrance. Scarves and boots hide the telltale signs of losing whatever ounce of color you might have obtained over the summer and autumn colors really do accent every skin tone. This is just one of the reasons fall is my favorite season.

From fall, winter emerges with its cold weather and gloomy skies. You would think that this would be the easiest time to be pale and go unnoticed, but you would be wrong. You see, by this time my skin has turned so white that I have to change foundation colors from medium pale to that of your average albino. This makes simple things such as going to the gym in shorts or taking pictures with flash quite embarrassing tasks. Also, certain colors cease to be a part of my wardrobe when December hits, including yellows and whites and anything too dark that will just leave me looking malnourished. All these things make me wish that humans could hibernate too.

 Spring means outdoor sports, which means my skin is in trouble. So, when soccer season rolls around, I can already see the burns that I am sure to endure in the coming season. Lucky for me, our team has long sleeve jerseys and since I’m an underclassmen relegated to cast-off uniforms, my shorts and socks are much too large. While this may not be the most flattering of ensembles, it certainly does serve it’s purpose as a protector from the sun. Unfortunately, the uniform doesn’t cover every surface of my body, so it does leave me with a rather unique farmer’s tan, or rather farmer’s burn of burnt knees and cheeks.

 Then comes summer, the most dreaded time of all for us of porcelain complexion. As school ends, most people designate their summer to a life outdoors and achieving that perfect tan that I can only dream of. For me, it means living a life of sunscreen by day and aloe vera by night. Oh yes, and the dreaded first burn of the season. Summer means relaxing by pools and beaches with your friends, something that I, as a teenage girl, refuse to give up.  Shorts and tank tops are a necessary evil of summer, but they do not come without consequences. You see, you can only avoid the burn for so long. Even 100 SPF sunscreen can only do so much to protect from the harsh UV rays that will undoubtedly penetrate my skin and leave me in a very painful state for a few days. Once the burn heals, you might be a slightly darker cream color, but more than likely, you won’t be.

 These are only a few of the unfortunate perils that come with being pale. So next time you see an unbearably pale person walking through the halls, respect the struggle you now know that they have to endure.