Written by Neha Bhatia and Pooja Sharma

This week, we were inspired to accept a challenge. Being as privileged as we are, we attempted to put ourselves in the shoes of those who are not as fortunate this holiday season. So, to anyone at school who happened to see the two crazy girls wearing the same outfits three days in a row, here’s why:

“You look cute today! What’s the occasion?”

Walking into school on the first day, we felt confident. It was the first time in a while that we put together cute outfits, and our confidence was only boosted by the compliments we received throughout the day, or perhaps even the next three days. Yes, we really did wear the exact same outfit to school for three days, and yes, we did wash the clothes in between.

“Is this the walk of shame? I know they are usually clean people…”

Embarrassed. Self-conscious. Worried. These were only a few of the emotions that were running through our minds as we walked into school wearing an outfit for the second day in a row. Our outfits were adorable, sure, but it was the same thing as the day before...and we had no idea how other students and teachers would react. As we walked into each of our classes, we felt helplessly hyper-aware of our surroundings. We could see people staring confusedly as they tried to figure out whether this was a case of extreme déjà vu or if we were truly wearing the outfit twice. We could hear the whispers on the bus as we walked through the aisle to a seat in the back. Yes, random person on the bus who we have never spoken to in our lives, we were actually wearing the same outfit twice. Thanks for noticing!

We like to believe that we are confident people. Everyone does. When we first began planning our outfits for this week, we knew that people would be surprised, even judgemental, but we hoped that to us it would just be water off a duck’s back. It’s not until you walk into a privileged area, blatantly repeating an outfit, that your self-consciousness slaps you in the face.

“I didn’t know your situation so I didn’t wanna say anything.”

By the third day, the worst was already out of the way. When people saw us wearing it yet again, they figured we were up to something, and many finally decided to confront us directly. When asked why we were wearing the same thing for the third time, we just said yes, which left many people shocked and “confused. Very confused.” Another encounter were those who were afraid to speak up because they thought we were having issues at home, and they felt as if it wasn’t their place to say anything. They seemed cautious, assuming we would be offended, but they were surprised when they discovered there was no reason behind our choice.

"I was wondering if you needed to go shopping again or something."

Being at Johns Creek High School, where kids have a pair of Yeezy’s for every day of the week, it was tough to wear such a distinct outfit for three days without being judged. Aside from the cleanliness aspect of it, people judged the fact that we supposedly didn’t have any other clothes, considering how wealthy our school and city are.

Little do people realize, in the city with a $132,831 average household income, there are homeless people who experience these struggles regularly, especially since they live in such a privileged area. We were fortunate that our three-day journey of outfit-repetition was a choice -- a message which we wanted to have heard -- but for many, the struggle is the only option. They don’t have multi-colored scarves hanging in their closets for every day of the week, and their shoes won’t always match their outfits; they may wear the same pair of torn-up (not purposely torn up, like the “cool kids” do) jeans every day, and accessories may be a luxury far beyond their reach. And while they may come from households which struggle to have a meal on the table at night or shoes on their children’s feet, these individuals’ struggles are exacerbated by their peers’ judgemental tendencies and the stigma that comes with not having an annual income of over $100,000. All it took us was three days to somewhat feel the lifestyle’s detrimental effects; imagine the damage a lifetime could do. Their lifestyles are deemed so taboo, in fact, that Johns Creek and Alpharetta city officials sought to remove a homeless man from the area because it ruined the picture-perfect image of our affluent district.

After our experiences the past three days, we developed a newfound appreciation for the means our parents provide for us and the importance of seemingly minor details. Even objects as simple as jeans and a t-shirt, of which the ability to wear we take for granted, have the utmost impact on our mentality and our interactions with the people around us. We have the ability to get an education and thrive in an environment rooting for our success. The ability to dress the way you want may seem like a first-world cherry on top of the ice cream, but the importance of even such a simple task should not be underestimated. We always knew that we should be thankful, but our three-day journey out of the depths of privilege has certainly reminded us to be a little extra thankful this holiday season. Above all, we learned to always remember that inside all that clothing, no matter how many times we may have seen it that week, there is a person; their wealth and status don't make them, their kindness and character does.

And of course, we learned, to be kind. A smile. A wave. The positive assurance that a person is far more than their appearance. Lend a helping hand to the people around you, not just this holiday season, but in every season.

Click here to donate or volunteer with North Fulton Community Charities and help families in need celebrate the holiday season.