Kylie M • California • 25
As if summer as a middle schooler wasn't awkward enough, my period debut involved the beach and a mortified male lifeguard.
It was the third day of my first real period and I was NOT ready for a tampon. I was heading to the beach for "Jr. Guards" where we run around the sand and into the water in red bathing suits. I was totally fine until my friend shrieked and pointed towards my legs. Exaggerated by the crashing waves, I had blood gushing down my frontside.
We ran to the instructor and requested to go to the restroom. He said "go in the ocean" and my friend replied "no she really needs a bathroom..." To which, he replied "we're pretty far away. It's not that bad to go in the water." And exacerbated, I huffed "it's a GIRL PROBLEM!!!" I was so dramatic and he was so mortified, but I was lucky enough to have a friend wrap me in a towel and run back to where we could find a tiny tampon and rinse off in peace.
