When you’re in high school, you want to fit in. You have to fit in, the thought of not fitting in is enough to make you sweat. It’s enough to make me sweat. 

Because the movies suggest that standing out makes the world better, but standing out is hard. Standing out is different and uniqueness should be celebrated, but it’s often difficult at this age, and often not a priority on the list of things teenagers want to worry about daily.

Walking around with the vague idea that something about you is making people stare a little longer, or walk a little slower or talk a little quieter is an interesting feeling, to say the least when you understand why. When you’re younger and don’t get what makes you such a spectacle it’s hard on your self-esteem and self-perception.

Learning to accept strange looks or to understand the lack of understanding behind them, often takes the people receiving them a long time.

Understanding the hurt caused by those looks and, lack of understanding takes those giving them even longer.

Perhaps it’s due to a lack of exposure and teaching. That’s what the age of the Internet best eliminates and with this new chance of learning comes to its challenges, which is a topic for another day. 

At present, the most important things are to begin to appreciate differences and understand the beauty that not everyone may see. 

Beauty like art is subjective, and sometimes it is ridiculous and unimaginable, but again that is one opinion. To all those who feel unseen may this be a reminder that neither the responsibility nor the burden of others’ opinions is on you. And to those still growing may this also be a reminder that there is always much to learn and many ways to go.

It is also important to do what you love to love yourself.  For the eye Staff, such things include:

“Hanging Out with Family, and  Cross Country Skiing” – Freshman Josephine Yokim

“Cross Country skiing is very peaceful and it gives you a lot of time to think about stuff, it’s very quiet and white and serene and you’re never really cold.”

“Listening to music, and biking outside.” – Sophomore Aneri Shethji

“An escape from the busy of everyday life, it’s how I take time for myself, a purely my activity.”

“All unproductive and fun things.” – Sophomore Sabrina Malkin

She enjoys doing nothing sometimes, doing nothing that requires work or effort. Sometimes just to leave stuff behind or away.

“Sleep.” – Sophomore Corrin Johnson

“Sleep is so comforting, and it puts your mind at ease to think of anything before you go to sleep, it’s like your possibilities are endless and you get to rest!”

“Dance.” – Sophomore Rucha Lovalekar

“It’s consistent, and I can go every week and dance and that’s always something that’s there, no matter what else is there. “

In any case pride in who you are, whether that may be an incomplete similarity to others or stark differences is key, and in the rich academic culture of North Allegheny, it is essential.