Teen Individuality | Teen Ink

Teen Individuality

February 11, 2009
By Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
73 articles 58 photos 349 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't waste time. Start procrastinating now.


A teen girl dares to wear a funky outfit to school that does not consist of skinny jeans, Uggs, or anything from Aeropostale. Her peers ask, 'What the heck are you wearing?', but she smiles and feels confident about her look. A 15-year-old boy who is quite popular and the captain of the basketball team has a secret passion for writing poetry. Even though his friends think poetry is nerdy, the boy continues to write his lyrical words and shares them with others. This girl and boy have something in common: they both show signs of individuality.

Being an individual is easy to want, but hard to attain. Teens nowadays only want to fit in, not to stand out. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines individuality as 'total character peculiar to and distinguishing an individual from others'. Being an individual is described as 'peculiar'. Not many people want to feel peculiar. They want to feel normal, just like everybody else. Individuality is a wonderful thing, though, that can only be accomplished by loving yourself.

'There's room for everybody on the planet to be creative and conscious if you are your own person. If you're trying to be like somebody else, then there isn't.' That quote was said by Tori Amos, and it is so true. There's no room on this earth for another lackadaisical Joe Schmo. When everybody wears the same clothes, has the same hairstyle, talks about the same things, and has the same beliefs, all the kids in the school hallway just blend together into one blob of boredom. That is why individuality is so important. No one wants to live a totally predictable life.

No one who hates themselves will be a true individual. If you dislike yourself, why on earth would you want others to dislike you for being diiferent? Someone who loves themselves and embraces their flaws will achieve being an individual. If you are confident about yourself, you can feel comfortable standing out. You can glow from within, as if saying to the world: Here I am! This is me, and I'm going to shine. You may not dress in popular clothes, you may not have the new iPhone, and you might be a huge geek that joined math club, but it's okay. You can be yourself without worrying about others. Who really gives a crap what they think? Most likely, they're jealous because they are not strong enough to be an individual.


Flaws should be seen as a blessing, not a curse. They remind us that we are all human, and not being good at something gives others who are good at it a chance to shine. There will always be some people who don't care to be different; who just conform every time a trend changes. But you don't have to be one of those people. You can stand out, feel proud, and be a true individual. Be peculiar and distinguish yourself from others. And always remember this: "Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than to be absolutely boring." (Marilyn Monroe)



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This article has 56 comments.


anonymous said...
on Nov. 11 2010 at 12:21 pm
yes and i understand the concept

on Nov. 5 2010 at 4:42 pm
Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
73 articles 58 photos 349 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't waste time. Start procrastinating now.

So are you saying that you like this article or not? I'm confused. . .

anonymous said...
on Nov. 4 2010 at 10:22 pm
what i dnt understand is how we want to be ourselves in school(uniforms) but countinue to talk about people when we all have almost the same thing just cause it dosnt have a brand name doesnt mean anything it still covers our bodies

on Nov. 4 2010 at 9:25 pm
red-head BRONZE, Belmont, New York
1 article 0 photos 25 comments
you write well and your ability to say what you mean to say, is a gift. write. 

on Oct. 28 2010 at 1:22 pm
Fabulous piece, I love it! I don't think anyone I know would disagree if I said I'm an individual... I wasn't always, though. I've lived wanting to be like everyone else, and to be frank, it stinks. You're constantly worrying what others think of you, and it's incredibly stressful. But I finally accepted that I am different, and now I take pride in the differences I used to be ashamed of! (Actually, I just submitted a piece called 'To Be Different' a day or two ago that talks about that. I'm still waiting for it to be confirmed, but if you'd like you can check it out when it is! I'd love it if you read it, but no pressure. ;) And once again, great job!

on Oct. 13 2010 at 11:08 pm
SpringRayyn PLATINUM, Lakeville, Minnesota
34 articles 2 photos 658 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't punish yourself," she heard her say again, but there would be punishment and pain, and there would be happiness too. That was writing."
--Markus Zusak, "The Book Thief"

I so wish I could have courage to be individual, but I seem to be cursed with this perpetual normalness!!!

on Oct. 13 2010 at 1:28 pm
Internal-Love PLATINUM, Queens, New York
33 articles 3 photos 310 comments

Favorite Quote:
Nothing's black or white, its all just a shade of gray---

















TI "Live your Life" ft Rihanna

i was different last year. i got severly tormented. the worst year of life.

True, individuality is important but when u go to a school like mine, u cover it up


on Sep. 21 2010 at 4:05 pm
deus-ex-machina14 BRONZE, Stewartsville, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 439 comments

Favorite Quote:
"There are two main tragedies in life. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it." -Oscar Wilde

I've never worn Uggs or Aeropostale, I write, read old books, play piano, sing oldies instead of modern pop, don't eat meat, and watch older movies. I've always been like that. If people start to realize your security with your differences and get used to the fact that you're not found every day, they start to respect and value that about you. Remember-be yourself. The people who don't mind matter, and the people who mind don't matter. Good job!!

on Aug. 30 2010 at 4:40 am
Phantom_Girl GOLD, Ft. Carson, Colorado
14 articles 0 photos 279 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If it comes out of the lion's mouth...it will be on the test."
-Mr. Bala

I feel the same way about music. I like popular and unpopular music. When I listen to the popular music, it doesn't mean I'm doing it to fit in. I'm doing it because it's good music.

on May. 12 2010 at 2:43 pm
Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
73 articles 58 photos 349 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't waste time. Start procrastinating now.

Thank you! :)

on May. 12 2010 at 1:17 pm
you_are_awesome GOLD, London, Other
10 articles 0 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
if you're a bird, i'm a bird :)

This article is great!!

i really really dont see the point in being normal and boring. being normal is being nothing.

but i think that every normal person is an individual we're all just too scared of each other to show it.

 


on Mar. 4 2010 at 3:40 pm
Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
73 articles 58 photos 349 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't waste time. Start procrastinating now.

Yeah, I know. If I really like a popular trend, I'm not going to not wear it just so I don't look like everyone else. For example, I love UGG boots. Everyone else wears them and sometimes I feel so boring, but I like them. I'm not wearing them to fit in.

on Mar. 4 2010 at 3:34 pm
musiclover94 GOLD, Springboro, Ohio
15 articles 0 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

You really know what you're talking about! I just wanted to add that if a person likes the things that are popular at the time, there's no reason not to get them. However, doing it just to blend in is ridiculous. I love being an indiviual and being peculiar is the best part! :)

on Sep. 29 2009 at 4:20 pm
Mandiella DIAMOND, Plaistow, New Hampshire
73 articles 58 photos 349 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't waste time. Start procrastinating now.

Thank you so much. And I am continuing to write. I write almost every day.

on Sep. 29 2009 at 3:49 pm
Giraffe2234 GOLD, Marshall, Missouri
10 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
Dont be a hata.

When you feel like giving think of what made you hang on this long.

Tell your secrets. They free you.

i love the last two paragraphs. your words are very strong and powerful. i hope you continue to write.

on Mar. 28 2009 at 8:42 pm
firstsnowfalls DIAMOND, Marcellus, New York
51 articles 6 photos 105 comments
Good Job. This is very true. All too often, walking through the hallways, I see everyone wearing the same thing, with HOLLISTER blaring down the side of their size-0 t-shirts. It seems that people only buy clothes for the brand name. Be proud of who you are⁄