Jamie "Shift" DiFiore

[Jamie "Shift" DiFiore]

JAMIEAUGUST DIFIORE
SHIFT

Well, hello there. My name is Charles Xavier, and who might you be?

Hello, Professor. My name is Jamie DiFiore. I don't really have many friends but most people call me Jamie. Actually, everyone calls me Jamie. There isn't really a nickname for Jamie...

It’s very nice to meet you. Welcome to the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Well, I’m a pretty average girl. I’ve always been considered a bit of an outcast in school. Ever since I was little, I’ve liked things that would be considered “dorky.” I’m obsessed with Star Wars and love reading comics. I always loved the idea of superheroes. I mean, when I was in third grade, I was Superman for Halloween. I know that Superman is a boy but what can I say, I really liked Superman when I was younger. Reading has always been a huge part of my life. Back at home, I had a HUGE collection of books, mostly sci-fi and fantasy. A big part of who I am is theatre. My family took my brother and I to see Broadway shows ever since we were really little. I caught the acting bug and from the time I was little, I loved to be onstage in whatever way possible. Despite being involved in theatre, I’m quite introverted. I live way too much in my head. It’s hard for me to meet new people and open up to them, but once I do, I’m quite goofy and outgoing. I guess I’m opening up to you, Professor, because you make me feel safe.

My family was always very close. I have two loving parents and a little brother who isn’t that much younger than me. No one in my family had ever been a mutant before so it was hard for them to deal with. They were upset with the situation and tried to make like they were ok, but I knew better. I eventually ran away so that they could have a “normal” life.

I have a few problems with OCD. I’m very particular about certain things, especially my books. My books have to be in pristine condition. Also, I am very afraid of spiders. I can change into any animal I like, but I refuse to be a spider. They are just so creepy with too many legs and too many eyes. But my biggest fear is the fear of failure and disappointing others and myself. I have always been an overachiever and the thought of failing something is almost too much for me to bear. So I strive for excellence and achievement. That is why I left home…I felt like I failed my family. One more big thing about me. I like my hair short. When morphing, less hair makes the transition from human to animal much easier.

Describe yourself in whatever way you’d like. Preferably your personality and maybe a few of your mannerisms or looks or peculiarities. Likes, dislikes, fears, dreams, things like that.

Over the years, we have striven to make this a safe haven for mutants everywhere. You are no exception. But you have exceptional powers, don’t you? Why don’t you tell me what it is you can do?

I actually love my power! I can become any animal I want just by thinking about it. But before I can…morph…I have to acquire the animal’s DNA. I touch the animal and it goes into a sorta trance while its DNA is being absorbed into my body. Basically, it just gives me an excuse to sneak into the zoo!

I really love what I can do. As a kid, I was obsessed with animals. I always wondered what it would be like to be able to fly like the birds or run as fast as a cheetah. Well, now I don’t have to wonder anymore. The feeling of flying…of just soaring above the clouds, the world so far below you…it is the best feeling in the world!

My, that is something! I think you’ll do just fine here. Some of our students like to give themselves “code names,” Do you have one in mind?

Umm…this is a tough one. I’ve never really been good at making up names. But I guess Shift works. Yeah! Shift! The name seems pretty self-explanatory. I mean, I shift into animals.


When did your mutant abilities manifest? What happened, and how did your family take the news?

I first discovered I was a mutant when I was about 16. We had just gotten new neighbors. My family, being very friendly, went over to greet our new neighbors. I rang the doorbell and was greeted by the barking of a dog. When the door opened, a German Shepherd bounded outside and began sniffing my shoes. I bent down to pet the dog but as soon as I touched him, he got very stiff and lethargic, as if he were falling asleep. As soon as I released my hand, the dog went back to normal, sniffing everyone and everything. I thought it was a little weird but I didn’t think too much of it.

It turns out my new neighbors had two girls about the same ages as my brother and I. While our parents talked, we went into the backyard to play with the dog. I was chasing the German Shepherd and thinking about how cool it would be if I had my own dog. I guess I was focusing on the German Shepherd so much that I started to “morph.” Except I didn’t realize what was happening. At first, all I hear was screaming. I stopped running and turned to go back to my brother and my new neighbors. But they were backing up from me in fear. I looked at my hands and saw that they were covered in brown fur. Suddenly, I felt something thumping against my back. I craned my head over my shoulder and saw I had a tail that was wagging back and forth. Suddenly, I couldn’t stand up on two feet anymore. I pitched forward onto all fours and the transformation finished. I could no longer see colors but the sounds and smells were amazing! It was as if I had been blind my whole life and could suddenly see. And yet, I was freaking out at the same time. What had happened to me? I went up to my brother and the girls. My neighbors ran screaming into the house while my brother reached out and tentatively started petting me. My parents came running out of the house to see what was going on.

Calming myself down a little bit, I started focusing on a picture of myself and the changes began again. Within a minute, I was back to my old self. My parents and brother stood there staring at me, fear in their eyes. After a few minutes of us just staring at each other, my mother came forward and hurried me into our house.

My family tried to be accepting of my mutant powers. They pretended to act as if it didn’t bother them and that I was normal. But I could feel their fear and anger underneath it all. They weren’t angry at me but I knew they were angry at the situation. Our family was shunned by the community. I still went to school but I was treated as a freak. The only joy I had was in morphing into a bid and just flying away from it all. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. So when I graduated high school, I just took off. I lived on my own for a year until I learned of your school. I thought it would be the best place for me. I would be with others like me and wouldn’t be an outcast anymore.


I see. These experiences help shape us and our future actions. This school has the chance to be a new beginning for all who enter here. Some students go on to become members of a team known as “X Men,” some go on to become teachers, guiding the next generation of mutants and others still filter back into normal society to pursue more “conventional” careers. How do you see your own future? We all have aspirations.

When I was growing up, I always thought I wanted to be an actress. I performed in all of my school plays and was actually quite good. But since manifesting my powers, I want to help make a difference in the world. I feel that I have a higher calling now. I want to fight for mutant rights! But at the same time, I want to help protect the “normal” humans. They don’t have special powers to help protect them. So it is up to mutants like us to protect them. And maybe then they will learn to accept us and see us as normal too. And maybe, I would still like to be an actress someday.



We’ll see how you feel when it comes to that. I’ll have one of the advisors show you to your new room. I hope you’ll be very happy here.