As you and I instinctively realize, the first post is almost always the most difficult and awkward one of all, however this is a post which I hope will inspire you into joining the club, or at least The Anti-Conformist Society (ACS).
Having set up my blog, Life as a Modern Teen, late last year, I've recently been inspired to turn my attention towards a startling matter which is affecting mine and probably your generation: conformism.
In life, we can expect to be pressurized and encouraged into performing deeds which, if we were not in such an environment, we would otherwise decline, but tempt us if asked by persuasive people or so-called 'friends' who don't know the meaning of the word. From performing childish dares to trying drugs, peer pressure surrounds us in many hidden forms which we often struggle to notice, and we are vulnerable to its powers whilst held under its tight grip. But, until a few weeks ago, I had hardly given a second thought to the underlying cause of peer pressure, and only discovered the truth because of incidents occurring in my personal life. And my discovery? Peer pressure is the direct result of what I'm now campaigning against: conformism.
Wherever I go at school, my watchful eyes cannot ignore the truth being displayed right in front of me, and I'm powerless to escape the devastating fact of modern day - and indeed teenage - life. Although it is easy to fall into the pattern of writing biasedly, I'm seriously not kidding when I declare that everybody at school looks, behaves and, depending on whether they can squeeze their thighs into ultra-mini skirts, dresses the same! And that exclamation mark doesn't exist because I regard it as an all-mighty joke; in fact, it saddens me beyond disbelief that teenagers of my generation are failing to express their individuality, believing that it is just to follow the crowd instead.
What baffles me the most is the reason why many teenagers are reluctant to express who they are at heart, and feel the need to follow the example of others. One reason which instantly springs to mind is that teenagers fear rejection like any other human being does, and children can possess a nastiness which would send shivers down an adult's spine. Indeed, bullying is more often than not rife during childhood, and has a bigger dominance because of social media, phones and the internet, which makes it impossible for anybody to switch off from school life. Nobody likes to be picked on nor deserves it, but should we not use it as an opportunity to stand up for ourselves - and never allow anyone to prevent us from embracing our uniqueness?
Unfortunately, I'm struggling to catch any glimpses of so-called 'uniqueness' at my school because pupils are either unaware of its existence or turn a blind eye to it, preferring to copy others (who of course copy other people) instead of thinking for themselves. And, when you think about it, it does evoke a sigh of pity for these pupils who are blinded by foolishness and are unable to realize that following the crowd is not the only way of being happy. But if it is all that they have ever known, how can you expect them to wake up one day and be an entirely different person?
Conformism is a sad tale in modern day society, yet no efforts appear to be made to banish it for good - and where does that leave a lost generation? I wish that the message about being true to yourself would finally get through to millions of youngsters around the world and, undoubtedly, the pupils at my school, but it is unlikely that all will listen and take the necessary steps towards redeeming themselves. If only one fellow pupil at school would break out of a trend and express no fear in standing out from the crowd; like I often say, it is better than nothing. However, I've received enough ridicule relating to my desire to be myself at the school, so who is to say that nobody else will be harassed?
Anyway, I would like to welcome you to the Society in which anyone with opinions and an independent mind is free to express themselves - it is the only rule I impose upon any members!
The Anti-Conformist Society might or might not make a difference to conformism-related issues, but I hope that it provokes an desire to change the mindset of society and many people. Hope is a beautiful thing, and will be cherished as my battle against conformism begins, hopefully leading to a successful ending.
Let your words protect you in battle!
- LikeATeen, July 2014
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