When I tell someone that I attended Catholic school for 13 years, they usually question the fashion choice my school's administration put in place. Others usually seem disgusted or surprised that I've had to wear the same outfit almost every day for that long. It's not like I wore the same exact shirt and pants five days straight then wash them on the weekends. I have multiple pairs of khakis, three polos, and a plaid skirt for Church days.

Honestly, wearing a uniform hasn't been as awful as it's made out to be. The reasoning behind it is to create a uniformed learning environment and to put all students at equilibrium. There's no bullying or discrimination because of the clothes someone wears. It's also nice to just be able to roll out of bed in the mornings and have your outfit already picked out.

The only downfall of wearing the same thing for 13 years is that I have absolutely no idea how to dress normally....I'm kidding. But in reality, there's few times where I've gotten to show my fashion style at school. On days called "dress-down days" students typically are rewarded or have to pay a fee to dress in normal clothes. The fee usually goes towards a fundraiser for the school, an organization, or if someone in the community is in need.

On these dress down days, I typically dress nicer than usual, taking time to do my hair and makeup. Others see these days as an excuse to wear sweats and be more comfortable. However, this is a day where everyone gets to be more themselves than on a regular day.

So yes, wearing a uniform for 13 years has been a blessings and a curse. On church days, I have to wear a plaid skirt and button-up shirt with a tie and knee socks. On other days, I can wear khakis and a polo. There's a corny joke used at times in my school that "one of us is going to have to change", considering we're all wearing the same exact thing.

With that being said, I couldn't be more excited to wear normal clothes from now on. But there will be times where I miss the simplicity of my (hideous) Catholic school uniform.