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Stigmas in High School: what they are and how to help Madelynn evans

Though they can be very broad, stigmas in high school are an issue that should be addressed. In the educational setting, students should not worry about judgement over being different.

Wearing clothes that are not trending

  1. Despite the emphasis on individuality, teenagers struggle with wearing apparel that does not “fit” in with society's standards. Teens reportedly spend $600 - $1000 on clothing just to avoid the judgment of not being the same. It is important as a community to not focus on fashion over personality. Clothes do not make up a person and changing perspectives will help others to feel comfortable with who they are.

Owning a cell phone and not using it

2. 53% of teenagers today have cell phones.  What about the ones who are without? Teenagers without phones are labeled as boring or disconnected, though it's not always the case. Some may feel more in touch with their social skills with less screen time. Being more sensitive about a classmate's situation can relieve the embarrassment.

Asking questions in class or in front of other students

3. A fear of asking questions in class can cause detriment to the education of teenagers. Many students feel as though asking questions can make them look incompetent in front of others. In spite of the need for knowledge, students avoid speaking out because of discernment from peers. Many students who ask questions are ones who care to learn more or are excited about a subject. A reasonable solution to the issue is to be more open minded and willing to educate others.

Having an opposing view point to a popular opinion

4. Similarly, speaking out against a popular viewpoint can be daunting. Today's generation revolves around individuality and speaking your mind; yet things can be assumed about a person based on their opinion and placing a person in that box can be cruel. This biased behavior can be easily recognized and altered. The best way to overcome it is to recognize the debate as a conversation, not a fight. Understanding the difference between an insult and a rebuttal are imperative for a collaborative discussion.

Socialization over education

5. Students typically prioritize socialization over schoolwork. Dissatisfaction can be felt by other peers if their friend is too busy with work. This can bring on anxiety and societal exclusion to the friend. In order to alleviate the stigma, students should respect their friends' wishes of doing work rather than socializing.

There is a common theme between the five high school stigmas listed; and they all can be resolved through your actions. At the end of the day, you can only control yourself and how you react. Think twice, respect one another, and be understanding of your classmates’ situation.

Credits:

Created with images by collager - "tie dye groovy retro" • DariuszSankowski - "phone smartphone sony" • Unknown - "Students Raising Their Hands · Free Stock Video" • Tumisu - "fight rock paper" • silviarita - "books woman girl"