I have always loved words. I loved vocabulary tests and browsing the thesaurus when I found my actual books less than stimulating ‘ sometimes to see if I could find better, more exciting words. I loved spelling tests, not because rules like ‘I before E’ thrilled me, but because one day every week we had the homework assignment of putting words into sentences.

Since I quickly proved to be an adept speller, who knew the difference between mat and mate, hat and hate, and of course, the inevitable fat and fate ‘ ‘was it your fate to be fat?’ ‘ I had the challenge of picking my own words each week.

I thought it would be best to choose the longest words Merriam-Webster had to offer me. I impressed everyone because I could spell ‘antidisestablishmentarianism,’ but I soon came to realize that the word has little to no place in one’s daily life, and that it also isn’t very hard to spell. Instead of defining it as ‘being against those who are against the establishment,’ it’s easier to say ‘for the establishment.’ In other words, big words aren’t necessarily great words or even better words.

It’s kind of like that kid in your class who raises his or her hand to get participation points and ends up making up words, thinking he or she sounds smart because he added a prefix or suffix to the word.

I have found myself thinking about this as I begin to polish up a r√É©sum√É© and search for a blazer that fits me for interviews (the latter is near impossible ‘ it’s difficult to find professional attire when you are the size of a 12-year-old. Not many 12-year-olds drool over tweed blazers and sky-high pumps. Or have a need for wearing them).

How do I demonstrate intelligence, my accomplishments and my knack for the English language without being lengthy and excessive and without inadvertently making an ass of myself?

I know I should use active verbs in a r√É©sum√É©, and then when speaking in interviews pause briefly to make sure I choose the right words. But what if my words come off as pompous, or require the person reading my work or listening to my voice to pick up Roget’s? What if I have been misusing or mispronouncing words for years? One word I will openly confess to always mispronouncing is ‘fetid’ ‘ and while I can confidently say I will probably never use that word in an interview, I can never be sure what words will come up in a cold reading or a script.

I frequently think of the episode of ‘Friends’ where Joey writes a letter and uses the thesaurus for every word to sound more intelligent. Of course, most words are misused or just make him sound completely stupid. Big words aren’t impressive, but being able to master your own lexicon is impressive.

The ability to express oneself via writing or the spoken word is critical to the plight of the graduating senior (or anyone, really). The heart of the problem is that we try so frequently to be something we are not that we start grasping aimlessly for words that we would never use. Perhaps if we find ourselves searching for words that we know we would never use, we shouldn’t be in those situations.

For instance, if I do ever find myself at a job interview that by some chance requires me to use the word ‘fetid’ in a sentence, I’ll take the need for that word as a sign that that environment is not where I want to be.