High school is the last time to have fun as a kid before moving on to the adult world. There should be no hesitation; it is the time to find one’s interests and to learn what one wants out of life, as well as what kinds of people to surround his or herself with. Each person has his or her own charisma that should be expressed and embraced.
Self-expression has a wide range of creativity compiled into it. It could be anything from body modifications to one’s own thoughts, opinions or forms of art. It is a form of individuality, it is what makes a person stand out amongst their peers and is one’s distinct voice. When there is no voice behind a person, he or she will automatically blend in to a “normal” background, losing the chance to show the world their creative mind. Anyone has the opportunity to express their imagination if they are willing to leave their means of isolation. It is better to be unusual than bland.
It is important for teens to learn to express themselves. Learning to accept one’s own ways of thinking is crucial to everyday life, as they should feel comfortable with their own unique personality and be able to share it with others. Personality could be the determining factor for a job if one stands out among others and could help create lifelong friendships with people who have similar opinions. If a teen can learn to express what they believe early in life, they will have a better chance at being happy with themselves as an adult. Being in a high school environment should not stall this opportunity.
Some may not feel comfortable with expressing themselves in high school for a number of reasons. Often times students divide themselves into groups, or cliques, and a student may feel obligated to fit into one of these. A student should not feel obligated to be sworn into a group of people and to blend in with them just for that feeling of acceptance, whether that be with the clothes they wear or what they say to others. If somebody is rejected by their peers because they do not agree with someone’s persona, they are obviously not worth their time. This could be avoided if people pretended we lived in a blind world, where appearance or someone’s form of artwork is not someone’s first judgment.
Ultimately, if one can learn to reveal how they really feel and what they think about, they could be happier with themselves. There could be a trickle effect; if one is honest and accepts who they are, then others will too. One should not do things just to please others or hesitate to be who they are. I have a Winnie the Pooh tattoo, five piercings and have had pink and purple hair, and it is truly enjoyable to do something out of the ordinary. One should share their ideas through poetry, paint their feelings and change their appearance. Being candid about one’s ideas should not be something to hide away or be ashamed of, but rather something to embrace. Live for happiness, and nothing less.
