Whether it be from teachers or parents, one line that many high school students have become all too familiar with is “ school is not a fashion show.” Yes, school is primarily a place of learning, but it’s also where over 24% of Americans spend the majority of their day.
Many high schoolers meticulously plan out each day. They wake up, go to school for six hours, attend club meetings, go to sports practice, come home, do homework, and finally get to go to bed. Because high school is a breeding ground for new friendships, it is important that many high schoolers are able to convey who they are throughout their busy schedules.
Outside of school, you can find freshman Nadia Blum filing, shaping, and coloring her classmates’ nails. What started as a simple way to pass time has bloomed into a talent that is sought after by numerous Haven students.
“A lot of times, my customers’ personalities reflect across their appearance, clothing and nails especially,” Blum said. “It’s really important for high school students to be able to experiment with their appearance and style because it can help build new connections with people.”
Junior Kaylin Fava is currently completing an independent study in clothing design. There, she is able to customize and create clothing for herself, which allows for creative ownership and personal identity to be reflected in her appearance.
“Appearance matters because it’s one of the few things that you can control while you’re in high school,” Fava said. “You can control the kind of impression you make. They can hate you, but you still look good.”
Also enrolled in clothing design, juniors Sloan Squires and Molly Lloyd value their appearances as a way to stand out from others.
“There’s a lot of repetition in fashion nowadays, and it might be a little scary at first to go outside your comfort zone and try new things,” Squires said. “But all in all, you’ll probably be happier doing what you want with your appearance than you would just going with the herd.”
For Lloyd, clothing and makeup style acts as a tool to present her beliefs and character, as well as a boost to her self esteem.
“Dressing the way I do and doing my makeup how I do it helps people see me how I want to be seen and attract people and that I want to be around,” Lloyd said.
If teenagers are restricted in one of the only ways that they can freely express themselves, then not only will their confidence take a hit, but so will their sense of identity during a pivotal moment in their lives where it’s supposed to be developing.
“My mantra is look good, feel good,” Squires said. “Self expression is so important to be able to tell the world who you are and what you stand for.”
Each opinion represented in The Panther Press is the view and voice of the writer. Opinions, as the selection and curation of content by the editors, do not represent the views of the entire Panther Press staff, the adviser, the school, or the administration.
