Popularity is a powerful tool. By this I mean that one's status can define how they are viewed by themselves and by others. My background knowledge on this is simply high school (which is nothing like High School Musical by the way). Somehow there seems to be a natural order of popular girls and guys that radiate self confidence, playing off of this, they somehow are entrusted to decide the "less-than's" fate. But I wonder, why is it anyone's job to tell other people who they are? I like to pretend not to care about my reputation as much as the next unpopular, quiet, gal, yet I tend to find myself making decisions about my life based around what I presume other people will think of me. I understand that some opinions matter, like those of my family and friends. What is so bizarre is that this "it crowd" is not made up of any friends or confidants. This crowd is more so guys who value keg parties and drive trucks with ridiculous tires and girls who only pose in bikinis and have daddy's money to blow. I know good and well that in ten years, these people probably won't remember me, let alone all the things that make me who I am, yet I still make decisions based on what I think will entice these people to be my friends.
What worries me is that when it comes to popularity is that, mind is not over matter. I still edit my Instagram posts, have a VSCO even though I don't get the point of it, go to the beach in hopes of achieving a golden brown tan, and worst of all I judge people based on how this presumed school royalty sees them. Its hypocrisy at its finest: I want to be seen for who I am and not how others view me, yet I base my opinions of people I don't know solely on what others have to say. Personally, I'd like to think I would have more friends or at least better relationships with the friends that I have if it felt worth the risk of being looked down upon for speaking my own truth. It's important to take a break from worry or self consciousness to express feelings and define ourselves rather than trying to cram into a mold shaped by other people,and while this seems like common sense, it is SO hard to master. Feeling like you aren't popular or liked puts such a pessimistic view on life for some people.
As children, we are taught something called the "golden rule", which is to treat people the way you want to be treated. The idea of popularity has erased the humility in the golden rule in more ways than one. Tying back to my original statement, people are judged based on false claims despite not wanting to be judged by others. Many times when kids are bullied, it is cited that the one's doing the harm are more popular and feel that they have a sense of authority over the one being being bullied. Having the popular status should not serve as an excuse to believe that others are inferior.
In closing, caring about reputations and putting up a front to seem cool is human, but it is an easy way to become comfortable in the fabrication your life. I encourage everyone, myself included, to stand up for what you believe in and speak about what you feel passion toward. People will judge you, people are always judging. The beautiful thing is that you have the power to change your outlook on yourself, use the feelings of doubt to build a life and to build friendships you can be proud of. I reckon that one feeling better than being popular is showing everyone who spoke bad about you how great you are and how much they missed out by being self righteous and not treating others how they felt they deserve to be treated. If you read this and realize that you are popular, I encourage you to use your power for good, help people to feel validated, and speak for those who can not speak for themselves. I think its time that we, as human beings, learn that there is no reason for life to be a popularity contest. We all have one life to live and it all ends in death, so why not give love, hope, and support to those around us rather than basing life around some shallow views of entitled kids who, frankly, are strangers?
1
07/06/18
