Reasons to Bark

In this day and age, standing out is difficult, especially in the hotbed of identity
struggles that high school happens to be. You could shave your eyebrows off and dye
your hair rainbowand still fade in beside your classmate like post-rain pavement
drying within days. Milton in particular seems to favor outspoken individuals, those
who can hold their own in a conversation or debate. (The line blurs all too often in
heated discussions.) Of course while many of my friends may be similar, none are
anywhere near the same, and I reckon that most people share that sentiment. But the
similarities between our ideal students beg the question: does Milton really promote
uniqueness?
Alas, the idiosyncratic world is cluttered with fears of trying too hard. So many of
us have that one friend that others mutter about behind his or her back- Have you
seen that full body snakeskin tattoo? She just wants attention. Let me repeat that for
emphasis: She just wants attention. The idea of someone permanently inking her body
for attention seems ridiculous in this context, but how often do we hear that line for
less shocking modifications? Eh, that neon orange shirt is just part of his bravado.
Too many people are anxious to stand out for fear of being scoffed- less for standing out
itself, more for being labeled as a limelight hog.
However, individuality is clearly a vital part of any community, both for the benefit of
the group and the individual. While an effort to stand out should never conflict with
ones nature or feelings, I certainly support those that arent afraid to display their
quirks. A certain sense of self-fulfillment follows when you step out into a crowd and
really let loose. Too many teenagers feel snared by common stereotypes and social
expectations, yet a poll on the website Helium shows that 74% of teenagers believe that
standing out is better than blending in. Among group dynamics, a strong, developed
sense of self can help contribute to the general harmony cheerfulness of any crowd.
Concluded in a study by Lise Jans, Tom Postmes and Karen I. Van der Zee of the
University of Groningen, The experience of individual distinctiveness canstrengthen
the awareness of the unity of the group. By expressing ones unique characteristics
freely, one can bring more to any community (including Milton) than by suppressing
those characteristics.
So the question remains: does Milton make it easy for students to express
themselves? I strongly believe that Milton, in its chaotic nest of creativity, innovation
and acceptance, is the perfect place to discover oneself. Not only can you expect to not
be ridiculed for free expression, but you can often also expect those around you to
embrace your oddities. My fellow weirdos may empathize with me in saying that in a
world where 61 percent of 8th to 10th graders [report] feeling sad and hopeless, (Centers
for Disease Control) I am extraordinarily grateful to be part of a place where I can
hobble around like a limping animal, meow loudly to whatever song is stuck in my head,
and randomly scare the living daylights out of people with my obnoxiously loud hound
dog impression. Despite the multitude of times its been said, I cant help but repeatdont be afraid to extend your own boundaries, because theres hardly a better place to
give anything a shot! If I were anywhere else, there would be a 0% chance of midday
barking.