By now, a lot of us have experienced middle school and high school, or are currently navigating through the crowded halls. We have seen or met different types of people in school, and are able to remember certain characteristics about them. This student could be remembered for being popular, shy, a star athlete, or a close friend. However, there is one other thing that young adults notice when it comes to the people that they pass in the halls. While some may feel guilty for saying this, I am going to put it out there for everyone to hear.
As young adults in middle school and high school walk through their crowded halls, they are judging other students based on what clothing brand that student wears. It is very sad and frustrating to think about this now that I am a future educator, but I cannot deny that the same thing happened while I was in school. The students that did not wear name brand clothing, got made fun of and judged by others. They were looked down on because they could not afford Hollister, The North Face, Nike, or Aeropostale. They were treated as though they were less than human because they could not afford a label.
Well, it just so happens that the person who is wearing Walmart brand clothes may actually be a better person than you. The person who cannot afford The North Face jacket, may actually be the smartest student in your class. The person who shops at Goodwill may have parents who are working day and night to provide for their family. Overall, the person you are judging for not wearing the latest trends and clothing brands may actually be the kindest, nicest, and most thoughtful person in the world. Even if none of this applies to that student that you see in the hallway, "a person's a person, no matter how small" (Dr. Seuss).
Furthermore, I would like to tell my future students that I could care less what the label on your clothes says. The only label that defines you is how you choose to treat others and how you choose to treat yourself. I would also tell my students to not be ashamed of where you came from or what you are wearing. Your uniqueness makes you who you are. To those who have judged these students, I would ask you whether you have taken the time to get to know this student, because a brand name cannot amount to human decency.
