Ive learned a lot this last semester. I've learned people are all kinda jerks, and were all kind of okay-ish. We let our selves go sometimes to fit in. And we maintain ourselves too much for the same reasons. We are all doing one of three things if not all, learning to do stupid (and smart) thjngs through socialization, pretending were better than others, or thinking that what were doing is all a part of something bigger working together to function.
But what are we really. I am Del. I an 18 and about to graduate highschool. I want to get a PHD in psychology and I want to be happy. Sociology told me that all of that has happened because of where Ive grown up, Who Ive grown up with, my race, my family, my wealth, and so much more. I am not just me, I am a compiltion of all of the things I have experienced and learned. But we have put a name to that and that name is Del.
Its 3am and my body wont let me sleep. All my body can do is stay awake and eat. Thats what happens when Im stressed. The last two days have been spent at my grandmothers bedside at BJC hospital awaiting the decision of weather or not she will be put on life support. My parents are discussing divorce, and all with 17 days left of my highschool career. I cant really seem to shake this feeling so instead I will try to put things into perspective for myself.
If my family was a minority there would be a chance I wouldnt even be in highschool. If my family were of a different race they way the doctors and nurses treat us could differ and not for the better. Despite how hard whatever each of us are going through it could always be worse.
I think sometimes we forget how good we do have it. We are all graduating soon. Our parents were abale to help us get an education, and for some that is a hot commodity. When I was younger we had a popular belief that every white van was a 'rapist van'. I say that because its exactly how we view race infact how we view any differences we smack a label on it because a situation happened once maybe a couple times and then everything else that looks the same becomes the same to us.
To live life in the white 'rapist van' would be hard. To know that even though you drive that van around because its the only thing that can fit the family or the wheel chair your grandpa needs, all the kids are peering at it wondering which of FBIs most wanted criminals are drivig it around. As with race, the hard working man walking home in a dirty wife beater with just a little bit of hurry in his step because he got enough money for the new toy his son wants is looked at with suspicion because of the color of his skin.
These labels we use are determing factors of how people should look at us, not just a way for the government to count us. These labels are a form of discrimination and in the midst of all of my stress, I can be thankful that I have been blessed by the hardwork and dedication of my family and hopefully one day not have to say I am thankful for the color of my skin or the place I came from.
When I clean my room I dont blast music like a normal teen I play ted talks. Its stimulating and I can learn something while cleaning a win win in my book. This weekend as I was doing laundry I found a ted talk under the category of feminisim. However, with having been learning about poverty and social class I was better able to relate it to that. This is a story about a women who grew up in the poorest of poor by our standards but was still doing much better than some. She is striving to teach the importance of having an education. With an education she has seen many women imporove their lives. I believe that these women can continue to move up if an education can be gained and improved upon. What do you think even can even the poorest of poor benefit from a little education?
Heres the link! Go check it out for yourself.
All my life my mom has called me 'pretty girl' she used to tell me how beautiful I was and put me in toddler beauty pagents. I never thought the simple nick name she gave me could have so much impact on my life.
As we learn about the labeling theory we learn that people live up to their labels and society sees the person acting how they expect. My mom always called me pretty and smart. Those words today hold so much value in our society. In my personal experience I do believe I have tried to live up to the 'labels' my mother gave me from such a young age.
When I was in middle school countless hours were spent trying to be pretty. I tried to have the good hair and clothes but most importantly I thought pretty meant skinny. I turned to bad habits to try and become skinny and by freshman year of highschool I looked emaciated. Since then I have overcame my struggles but everyday is still a battle with myself of pretty I make sure my makeup is perfect and my hair looks nice and if I dont feel pretty generally I dont have a great day.
My mom also told me often how smart I was. I believed her and I flew threw allmy elementary and middle school classes with above average grades. However when highschool came around I was taking honors classes and doubting my intelligence I knew I was smart but sometimes the material made me feel otherwise. I didnt think I needed to study for any tests because I was smart. I got a very harsh awakening when I realized there were soooo very many people smarter than me in highschool. I tried vigorously to maintain my label of smart but somehow felt like I never met all the requirements.
My point here is that labels have such a large impact on our lives, in the present and the future. If we live up to what everyone calls us we may only be selling ourselves short, and end up taking deviant paths to achieve the labels we think we carry with us. Do you have any labels and if so how have they impacted your life?
