Today You are You by Christion

Today You are You by Christion - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

High school is paradoxical, because it is a seemingly infinite roller coaster that picks up speed with every day that passes. However, soon enough, it will all come to an end and we can’t redo it. But if we do it right, that one time will be more than sufficient for the experience. If I were to give advice to an incoming freshmen, I would give the all-time cliché: be yourself. Now, before everyone blows out a dramatic puff of breath or gives a roll of the eyes, allow me to explain.

So many kids today are struck with depression and anxiety from the trials of high school, whether it’s not being in the “popular group”, or sitting by themselves, to worrying about what they wear. The key to the lock of this problem really is as simple as being one’s self. Although in the moment one might not see the light at the end of the tunnel, being one’s self will allow and individual to be their own light. And through that allow him to be a beacon for another. Because you see, life is too short, and high school is honestly just a blink of the eye. (This coming, from someone who graduates in a little over 6 months.) If everyone will just be himself and do what makes him happy (within reason of course) more genuine relationships will be formed. An individual will be able to make an actual friend that will last him a lifetime, and not some artificial manufactured substance that high school relationships tend to be made of.

To all of my incoming freshmen, do you. It really is as simple as that. If knee high lime green and orange striped socks make you happy, then wear them. If you like to wear your hair in pigtails, then wear it, and own that hairstyle! If you’re hungry, eat a snack in class, and stop caring if people hear you crunching. You are not here in high school, or in this life honestly, to please anyone but yourself. It is nice to make people smile and happy along the way, and granted I am not telling you to be selfish or rude to anyone you see, but put your own happiness first. In essence, you enter this world alone, you’ll leave from it alone, and in all the in between, you will have to live and put up with your own self. Then as a bonus little side note, don’t put so much of your time into vanity and how people see you. It is awesome to dress up, go to the gym, wear makeup, and have the prettiest hair, just don’t become obsessed with it. One of my previous English teachers would tell my class to invest more time in our minds, our educations, and our futures, because our bodies would be the first things to leave us and stop working.

Lastly, I have two quotes for any soon to be freshmen, but anyone really, to always remember. The first is by David Foster Wallace, which says, “You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.” The second is from Dr.Seuss himself which goes, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” The sooner you learn to be yourself, the sooner you will become your real self, and stop searching for the person you think everyone wants you to be.