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By Christina Muttavanchery ('23) & Kelly Barros ('23)
Surviving high school is hard as it is already, but throw in judgmental stares and peer pressure of dressing or looking a different way, and it’s chaos. Welcome to our new monthly segment of Surviving High School! We're your hosts, Christina Muttavanchery and Kelly Barros! We’re both sophomores here at NR and thought it would be good to showcase the reality of it.
Just by walking in hallways, you’ve probably spotted individuals with colored bangs, wearing large winged eyeliner, little hearts under the eyes, and a highlighted or blushed nose. That’s a style stereotype and many could do this and be inappropriately considered an "E-girl." You could be admiring them while another is judging them. And then, we have girls who choose to wear a more simplified outfit to school, who get labeled as “basic.” Not only do girls get labeled as basic; throw on a pair of shorts or sweats with a random hoodie and you have your “basic” boy. If you were caught wearing something new or different people would say “they’re trying too hard.” You can even get judged by being a nice person. We’re pretty confident in saying many people have heard a guy been called a “simp” for being a genuinely nice person. There’s pretty much no way to fit into everyone’s expectations in high school, so the best thing is to go against the grain and be yourself in order to make your own healthy expectations!
"E-Girl" Inspiration / Pinterest
You’re meant to be unique, so embrace it. It’s unnecessary to try to make yourself look a certain way for others to like you. I remember that I, Christina, would be embarrassed by having any part of my skin showing where I had stretch marks, but I learned to embrace my look and not feel insecure since, at the end of the day, you have to love yourself completely. I used to even think switching up my entire closet would change people’s perspectives of me, but I realized I need to accept my style and not try to look like “other” girls. Many people judge others based on what they wear, look like, or how they act. Some obvious things that shouldn’t be mentioned are stretch marks, “extra” hair, size/shape, and just things in general you wouldn’t want people to point out about you. This is unacceptable. People have feelings, as shocking as that may seem to some, so your lack of self-esteem or whatever it is that causes you to have such strong opinions towards others should be fixed! Just think before you speak. Look at me, Kelly, for example, being the single lady in The Rambling Raider is an amazing experience and I love it, but I do get the little teases here and there. I’m completely fine with it; it actually makes me genuinely laugh because I know my friends don’t mean it with any mal intent. Everyone is unique and special in their own crazy way. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about doing stuff that seems a bit weird to others if it’s what you enjoy; just have fun! If you feel like you’ve judged someone in the past and keep doing it, stop it!
Many can relate to the terrible experience of getting judged or criticized. Personally, it happens to me, Kelly, every time I see family. A visit/vacation cannot go by without a judgment on how I look. Whether it’s remarks about how I got “bigger” or “slimmer.” Although it is a small comment, I don’t appreciate it, especially if they constantly repeat it. I respect my family, but there are civil ways to go about this. You can express your emotions by talking about them and explaining how you feel. If something bothers you, speak up. You got this!
Be confident bestie! Remember to:
1. Embrace all parts of yourself (stick to your friends if they make you feel safe)
2. Think everyone around you is naked (trust me, it helps)
Courtesy of Dreamstime
In high school, confidence is a hard thing to have, at times. Remember that everyone struggles in one way or another, even if it isn’t visible to the naked eye. I, Christina, know that feeling alone is one of the worst emotions, but remember that there are others going through society’s pushed standards of what comes to the expectations towards beauty and style, but you can help rebel against such narrow-minded thinking by pushing new beauty standards and helping others embrace theirs as well since it’s not a one-person job but a joint effort to help change society.
At the end of the day, it’s just high school, and not what your whole life is going to be. You’re perfect the way you are and you don’t have to prove that to anyone as long as you know it.
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