I think we can all recall the high school days when teachers and administrators put a ruler against our shirt straps because they didn't meet the “four finger rule.” Some people even went to schools that enforced a dress code. To all of the young ladies out there who are grateful to have escaped those rigid dress codes, do not forget that they were set in place for a reason. While grade schools may have drilled the rules into us in extensive manners, they were there to set a foundation for students to carry with them into their futures.

In my college years, I have noticed a trend that occurs as soon as the cold New England winter leaves and the first warm day arrives. Girls begin wearing crop-tops and other revealing items because they know that they can. Because there is no official dress code on college campuses, students, especially females, have the opportunity to dress how they please to express their own style. I am grateful for the freedom to dress in my own way, but I create boundaries for myself when getting ready in the morning. While trends change, professional standards do not. We are in college to train ourselves for the professional world, a world in which we cannot dress inappropriately.

We need to be conscious of the way that we dress when attending classes and seminars, out of respect for ourselves and our professors. It is distracting and disrespectful to go to class in the same outfit you would wear to the club that evening. Yes, we have the freedom to wear tank tops on hot days unlike most of our high school experiences allowed, but we don't need our entire midriff showing, or bottoms so short that the person walking behind you can see more than they need to.

In no way am I in charge of your decisions and lifestyle. I embrace and encourage unique style and expression, but students of any gender need to be aware of their audience throughout the day and ask themselves if their outfit is appropriate. College is a time to find out who you are and what you want to be. It is a time to learn skills that are necessary for success, while also training for future careers. It is our "practice time" before we start in the "big game," so we should be dressing that way. Peers, faculty, and employers will take you more seriously if you are dressed to impress.