As humans we are classified as intelligent animals; we live in complex societies, are able to think of life and death, perform complex thinking, and many other things other primitive animals could not do. As intelligent beings we strive more than just to survive, we strive to live and prosper, we strive to be a part of the society. However, we get the concept that to be part of society we have to be like everyone else and to prosper we have to follow the traditional path our parents lay down for us. We're expected to follow norms and act like a "normal" person.

80% of the time society is right. People have a reason for what they do most of the time. People that get a good education tend to get good jobs and having good manners do tend to make you more approachable. Getting good grades in school and being sociable lead to a future and good life is what most parents believe in and frankly what most students believe in too. Thus when a student falls out of being the best and trying the hardest they could, they get anxious and fearful, fearing that they couldn't succeed and being excluded from society. Many of us have this fear of not being like others, the impostor syndrome. My dad ever since I was a kid have been comparing me to other people, constantly devaluing my achievements and who I am while valuing the good traditional properties of other kids.

For a long time I was taught not to think but just to do, do my hardest and not think why, do my best at what society thinks is the best for me. I neglected my own unique qualities and focused on schoolwork up until high school. It wasn't until high school did I realize myself and begin thinking for myself rather than follow the common norm. During this time I spent so much time evaluating what I should do that my school work overwhelmed me, and I was unable to balance out schoolwork, social life, and everything else. I felt at lost and not sure if the traditional track society has laid down for me suited for me.

I couldn't see who I really was, I let society mask over who I was. I allowed norms to be my standards and grew fearful that I didn't match up to those expectations. Many of us students are so scared on be excluded from society because of all the expectations that we forget about ourselves and how every one of us is unique. We don't need others to judge us nor do we need to take other values over ours. In a world where we judge each other every day I believe that it's important to not lose yourself in the midst of all the judging and expectations.

So many brilliant people I know aren't exactly the brightest bulb in school while the highly intelligent people aren't the most sociable or hard working people. We fail to appreciate our own uniqueness when we succumb to societal standards, leading to depression, confusion, sadness, and overall negative wellness. So let you be your own judge and see yourself proud at what you've achieved so far.