Different is Different

Elle Vandenberg
Oct 15, 2023
2 min read

In my high school experience, I have learned many things. One thing that has been a repeated issue is the lack of respect and open-mindedness my peers have for each other.

I’m not saying to be friends with everyone but having an open-minded attitude towards people helps. Plus trying to understand those who come from different walks of life is a very mature way of thinking. From personal experience, I make more acquaintances and relationships by simply being open-minded and respecting other people’s opinions and beliefs.

Every time I call someone “annoying” or “weird” I ask myself why I think that. If I’m not friends with them and I have never met them and/or truly experienced their character why do I say that? If the answer is “Well, they’re just different,” I rethink it. Oftentimes, at this stage in our life, my peers and I automatically assume that different is bad. Different isn’t good or bad, it’s just different.

This way of thinking continues to help me be a happier person, it gives me the ability to have more fruitful relationships, and better “people” experiences.

I’ve also had firsthand experiences of being mocked because of my interest. My primary interest is deemed weird by some of my peers. They assume who I am and what I am like because I am signed with a modeling agency. I asked one of the people why they always talked about me modeling and they said “I don’t know, it’s just different.”

I reflected on what they said. The very sad reality of people my age judging others because of their interests is evident in that situation. If they think it’s so crazy that someone is doing something that is “out of the norm” or “different” how would they be able to experience different kinds of people throughout their journey of life? If they’re uncomfortable with the way I choose to live my life outside of school now, how are they going to experience a multi-faceted life?

This can be dangerous to people and to the outlook they have on the world. Surrounding yourself with people who are mostly the same, 24/7, and don’t come from many walks of life can be unhealthy. Cutting yourself off from people just because they are different is harmful. That is one of the many prominent things high schoolers do. Constantly meeting new people who are from different backgrounds is healthy and adds more spice to life. It keeps your horizons expanding all the time.