High school is a big part of everyone’s life, and the culture of school is always changing. School culture is a concept of shared thoughts and shared values and behaviors. While everyone may have a different idea of what they think is wrong or right, many can agree that some of the most valued experiences you can get out of high school are friendships.

High school holds a lot of norms and expectations that many feel pressured to follow, including myself. Social media, for example, is where many students are searching for new looks, what’s trending or simply what is or isn’t okay to do. Truthfully, I think everyone should express themselves differently and freely without judgment but keeping in mind not to hurt others by words or actions.
My own high school experience was not what I was expecting, and the way high school has shaped me is something that will last forever. Being at East has truly not been all that bad, and being in East introduced me to much more than I could’ve ever imagined. High school is a place where I and many others can come of course to learn, but also to make those amazing connections and do things that may not have been thought of before.

When I first came to East, I was already sure of who and what I wanted to be. I wanted to be liked by people, and I wanted to make a good first impression on others. But coming from middle school into high school was a big difference especially for me since I was home schooled for two years, meaning that I missed out on all the middle school experiences, and I jumped right into high school. It caused me to feel late and behind on everything, so I wanted to make the most of it and connect with everyone.

Many may feel the same as I did, feeling the need to impress or get “approval” of yourself, and it caused the need to follow what everyone is doing around you. While at East, something I have picked up on is the ‘popularity’ term, and how it gets thrown around a lot and it makes people spiral around on if they are good enough, pretty enough or just enough. I think this builds pressure on a person’s ability to feel that they are allowed to be friends with others, and this feeling is draining because I have been there and it’s unhealthy. But there is way you and I can overcome this feeling by not focusing on the past or the future, just live in the moment and do things that you want to do.
There is no need to feel lonely or afraid of judgement because we are all feeling the same feeling or close to the same feeling. Some may feel judged by a certain trait they have, or the way they may laugh, or simply by what you’re wearing that day. Something I think you could do is practice your fear of judgment. You can find videos or books that can teach you to overcome that feeling and express yourself the way you want to.