To Thine Own Self Be True

How do popularity and stereotyping affect society today?

My friend Brad and I sort of make fun of each other using stereotypical names.

His is Jock because he is the type who’s big with muscles and participates in a lot of sports. But in no way is he a “dumb jock.”

My name is Preppy because I am the type who dresses nice and casual and gets good grades.

Stereotyping is so regular at my school and all other schools that it’s hard to avoid it.

Have you ever wondered why certain groups get more recognition than other groups? Have you ever realized how popularity affects society today? If you are in junior high school, you would see how often people stereotype themselves.

I am an eighth-grader at Salk Middle School. I do not believe I belong to one group. One week, I could be part of the “cool” group; the next, I could be an independent.

Have you ever realized how popularity and stereotyping affect politics? I was my elementary school treasurer for two years and ran for eighth-grade treasurer. But because I was not part of the popular group, I did not win. Some may say I am feeling sorry for myself, but how could a person with two years of experience lose to someone with no experience at all? I have learned from this to be myself and to continue trying until I succeed.

Usually, the candidate with the most money to spend wins. This is exactly how it is at school. Whoever’s parents make the most money has the coolest clothes.

This seems to cause a chain reaction. Everybody else seems to want the same clothes, so whoever buys and wears those clothes becomes part of the popular group. Some people I know will spend $350 on clothing in one weekend.

I think it is a dream for every little kid to have a lot of friends, clothes and money and to be popular. As time goes by, it becomes harder and harder for someone to achieve this dream.

As my dad once told me: “Today is today and yesterday was yesterday. You need to forget about the past and think about the future.”

I think that people need to keep their dreams within reach and keep reaching. Do not care what anybody else thinks of you. Change yourself for you and not anybody else.

Editor’s note: Crystal Dyer’s photo was taken by Laura White. Both are Salk Middle School students who recently spent a “shadow” day with Spokesman-Review staff members.

MEMO: “Your turn” is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a “Your turn” column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write “Your turn,” The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane 99210-1615.