Before you read any further in this, I want you to do something for me. Look. Take a moment to look around whatever room you’re in right now and scan every single person in there quickly and remember the first thing that comes to mind when you see these people. Now, what was it that came to your mind? Judgments, most likely.
Skank. Popular. Jerk. Goth. Weird. Ugly. Nerd. Loser. Freak. etc.
I bet there’s not one person who hasn’t looked at someone and thought one of these. Likely, you’ve thought it about a person you’ve never spoken to before in your life, as well as people you have. Often these judgments and labels we place on people are insulting and drastically incorrect about that person. We may think those simple thoughts, discrete glances, or those head-to-toe glares we give each other through the halls are harmless, but they’re not.
I don’t think there’s a single girl or guy in this school who haven’t given someone a dirty look, or received one as well. I’ve had my share of them, and I’m sure you have too. Is it really necessary though? What does giving someone one of those looks do for you, does it make you feel secure? And what’s the person receiving going to do? Turn to their friend in the hall and say, “OH MY GOD, she just gave me the dirtiest look.” Cool, do you feel accomplished now that the look you just gave may have made someone feel a little less secure?
Why do so many of us feel compelled to do such a pointless thing that only brings on negativity and shows the weakness and idiocy existing in the human race?
Why do so many of us so instinctually come to conclusions about those around us rather than learning who they are first?
Though I know this article won’t change anything, maybe people will at least be more conscious of their actions and become more open-minded and accepting of everyone around them, because everyone deserves at least a chance.
I interviewed my classmates about the judgment that goes on in high school and surprisingly, many of their responses where alike. Junior Aidan Stasi said, “People are hypocritical when it comes to judgment, because no one wants to be judged by the things they do or who they are friends with, but everybody judges a person for one reason or another.”
Junior Haleigh Wynach stated that she believes kids can be extremely cruel. “We’re very judgmental. Most people are going to look at you in one glance and have their idea of who they think you are”
Judgment has affected people in different ways, for some it makes them care what others think of them, while for others it teaches them not to. Haleigh said, “High school taught me not to care about what people think.”
Junior Krissy Hoefer shared, “If someone said I had weird clothes, I might focus on my clothing for like a week. Then I’d just forget about it.”
I think high school would be a better place for many people if we could just try to be a bit more welcoming. So next time you go to give someone that look, or label someone before you even talk to them, think twice. Better yourself, don’t lower yourself to the primal animalistic instinct of vicious, teenage judgment.