Enough with the praising and degrading. Everyone has a passion and everyone works hard — what other people think should not impact a person’s life.
There wouldn’t be a fight for funding or recognition in high school if members of a community were all happy for each other and supported their variety of talents. It’s an age-old battle, but the conversation teens hear is really full of negative comments about the social system more than, not negative comments about the students.
When someone writes a hateful message on social media about a group of people, it is easy for an individual to take offense, considering that young people’s passions and interests are so closely tied to their senses of identity. Actions such as this are a step in the wrong direction and can make the aggressor seem uncivilized.
If a person truly is as strong as they would like others to believe, the opinions and comments of others should not have a negative effect. Whether waking up with bruises or strained vocal cords, losing a game or losing confidence, everyone works hard to strengthen their abilities and therefore deserves recognition. With that being said, sometimes you are not recognized and you just have to deal with it and use this realization to improve yourself.
The way that you deal with these situations shows how others should define you. Many people will judge the behavior of others, not their interests. If someone calls you a freak or a jerk they are most likely referring to how you act and not what you do. The stereotypes in schools exist for a reason, and some groups of people just don’t mix well. At the same time, it is not helpful for cliques to speak ill about each other when they should be supporting each other. Young people should go against the system that separates them instead of going against each other.
Arts kids could try going to a game and supporting the “jocks,” and for athletes it wouldn’t kill them to see a drama performance or concert. This is simply a way to show support a talented group of peers. Rather than feeling so concerned with image, it’s important to not only strive for perfection with one’s own interests, but to be a well-rounded person by helping build others up.
Changing the way people look at cliques seems like a radical idea, but defeating the system is a real option and it would make all of our lives easier. Because let’s face the fact — sometimes we could all use a support system.