THE ECHO

By Zoe Smyth // Reporter

When getting to know someone, it is often through run-of-the-mill questions like “what’s your favorite color?” or “Where did you grow up?” But rarely do we ask the most important question of all: “What’s the story behind your shoes?”

Shoes have a deeper meaning behind just being an item of clothing. Through a person’s choice pair of shoes, their lifestyle, story, hobbies, preferences, and more can be revealed. It is more than just rubber or cloth: it is a representation of a person’s soul.

For senior Gwen Parsons, her favorite pair of shoes, low-top navy-blue Converse, hold memories from many years of her life; they have become a valuable vessel that shows where she has been and who she has become.

“I think initially, I wore these shoes because I thought they made me look cool and chill and skateboard-y” Parsons said. “Now, I wear them because they make me comfortable, confident and happy. I seriously adore them.”

Parsons’ Converse show how she has changed over the years and holds memories that impacted that change. Now, Parsons can’t imagine life without them.

” They also carry a lot of memories. I seriously cannot imagine ever getting rid of them. When I catch a glimpse of them on my feet, one little sparkle is added to my day. Then after many glimpses, my day is very sparkly,” Parsons said.

Sophomore Taylor Roberts has her own reasons for valuing her favorite pair of shoes- her tennis shoes reflect her highly active lifestyle.

As a soccer player for both the school team and her club travel team, Roberts has gotten plenty of use out of her tennis shoes. “My most worn shoes are my tennis shoes because I wear them for pretty much everything. I wear them in the weight room, around school, and when I go on runs,” Roberts said.

When searching for the perfect pair of shoes, Roberts had a specific goal in mind. “I first got them because I wanted a comfortable pair of shoes that I could use for different activities, and they ended up becoming my go-to shoes.” Months later, they are still keeping up with her hours of activity each week.

Trendiness can also factor into why someone chooses their go-to shoe. Junior Kenna Thurgood chose her favorite pair, Birkenstocks slides, because of the popularity of the shoe around her.

“I found out about Birkenstocks because a lot of people around me were wearing them,” Thurgood said. “My favorite part about them is that they are comfy and easy to slip on and off.”

Shoes are the window to the soul. Ask your friend about their favorite pair of shoes- you are sure to find something out about them you never would have known otherwise.