Dear Hopelessly Confused High School Student,
Let’s face it. We all
say that we want to be unique, to be our own person, unlike any other in the
world. Everyone claims that being special or different is most important to
them. But that’s just not the truth, is
it?
The fact is (and it’s a cliché for me to even say these
overused words) that all everyone wants to do it fit in. As much as we try to resist the urge to flow
with the crowd, it’s damn near impossible to separate yourself from what the
universe seems to want you to be. Tall,
handsome (as hell) guys in high school always seem to end up on the football
field, and that guy wearing skinny jeans and the ironic t-shirt probably plays
saxophone for the jazz band. We
gravitate towards the social niches that seem most appropriate for us because it’s
the most natural thing to do.
Now, I’m not talking about cliques here. That is a way over-perpetuated phenomenon
associated with the high school years.
As much as I’d like to have an awesome FGBG (Fabulous Gay Best Friend)
like Damien and be a member of the Plastics, I can speak from experience when I
say that Mean Girls was lying to you. Of
course there will always be Regina Georges, those ultra-perfect princesses that
you want to kill and take selfie with at the time. Teen bitches are most definitely present IRL,
but I find that, at my high school at least, there are not actually set in
stone cliques. It is way more complicated than that.
See, nowadays, high school is more complicated and dramatic
than a season finale of Pretty Little Liars.
There are so many different people around you, all with different social
backgrounds and Twitter bios, that it is often hard to find your own place. There so many kids trying to break out and be
the Pretty One, or the Popular One, or The Artsy One—everyone wants their own
superlative. But, unfortunately, there aren’t
that many to go around. And that, my friends,
is why it is so easy to want to be a cliché.
The definition of a cliché (according to Urban Dictionary of
course) is being predictable and
unimaginative; falling into a groove of human boredom; an old tired trend. But being a cliché does not have to be
boring. People like clichés. Romantic
comedies all of the same formula: well-rounded and beautiful female played by
popular Hollywood actress, generically handsome man who looks killer in a tie,
someone falling into a pool, and a kiss in some form of bad weather. Yet we never get tired of these things
because, deep down, we know it’s what we want.
The nerds haven’t stopped wearing glasses just because we expect them
to, and I’m pretty sure the cheerleaders at my school aren’t all naturally blonde. Clichés are only cliché because everyone
loves and expects them, and aren’t you supposed do and be what you love?
High school is a nebula of hormones, gross cafeteria food,
and failed biology tests. With all the
new feelings and experiences you’re discovering, who has time to “find
themselves” and “discover their passion”?
I say save the soul-searching for under grad; besides, those kids who
have it “all figured out” in high school are super anal and annoying anyway.
If you’re not ready to start to swimming against the
current, just let yourself get carried away by the direction of the crowd. If you want to wear your grey Ugg boots with
your Pink leggings everyday then by all means, head over to Victoria’s Secret
right now. (They’re having a sale on panties,
in case you were wondering.) You want to
listen to Top 40 all day long and watch Pretty Little Liars like every other
girl in the first world? Make like your Nike
compression shorts and just do it. Write
a One Direction fanfiction, read the TFIOS ten times, drink a million pumpkin
spice lattes—do whatever mainstream thing that you freaking want to! Basic is the new black, bitches, so either
join the herd or get trampled.
Being yourself (ugh, the biggest cliché of all right there)
is of course very important. But as long
as you’re not harming yourself or other in the process, there’s nothing wrong
with wanting to fit in with the people around you. After all, there is no wrong way to be
yourself, especially in high school.
There’s a certain thrill of doing what everyone else is doing because you
know there is no way you will be judged for it.
So embrace the cliché and just enjoy getting lost in the crowd, at least
for now.
Hugs and kisses,
Gwen
