Chains of Free Will, Imposed by Conformity

Air Forces, baggy jeans, a Stussy tee, and some AirPods blasting Kendrick, sound familiar to you? Of course it does, I’ve just described what a third of the SFS student body looks like. Think of academics. All-nighters, caffeine, and procrastination are no strangers to us. What about extracurriculars or tassels? When such key components of our lives all align, are we really living original lives?

Obviously, we all understand that we have free will when it comes to our thoughts and actions, but do we really? Or is it just an illusion that we build around ourselves to give us the serenity that comes with free will? A lot of our actions- the way we talk, dress, think, and act- are dictated by what we see as “fit”. This homogenization isn’t news, either. Shoulder pads and obscenely baggy pants, pixie and bob cuts: our parents’ generation went through the same phases. As social animals that obsess with others’ perceptions of ourselves, whether we want to or not, conformity seems inevitable. The speed at which information travels, with globally embraced platforms like TikTok or Instagram, is unprecedented. It seems like there’s a new fashion trend, fad, or slang every time we open the app. Teens, being in the most impressionable, socially unsure, and insecure part of their lives, are taking the full blast of these impacts. 

This conformity and norms might not seem terrible to some: I mean, there are norms for what’s acceptable and what isn’t, and we rarely have to second-guess our wardrobe choices! However, while these small choices to fit in might be comfortable or even rewarding, they chip away at our personal identity and flair. To frame it better for us students, consider college admissions. We’re always told that those cookie-cutter responses to essay prompts aren’t going to get us anywhere. But how do we get creative and stand out when we’ve been thinking, talking, and acting like everyone else our age for the past four, or maybe even more, years? Ever wonder why those ‘relatable’ TikToks always seem spot-on with our recent events and concerns? With FOMO, peer pressure, and social media reinforcing homogenization like never before, we might as well be living the same lives, just in different places.

To reverse the march towards blandness, we should prioritize individuality. SFS, being a highly diverse community, celebrates unique achievements and diverse backgrounds, which already puts us ahead in the search for novelty. Diverse clubs and activities, which already exist and are being added to each semester, can support a variety of interests and hobbies that cater to different personalities. As for personal steps, mindful use of social media can help, but it is much easier said than done and is a habit that is built up over time. Self-reflection is a helpful option as well, such as through personal journals or online ones like the new Apple Journal app. It can be a personal space to explore personal interests that don’t necessarily conform to norms.

Conforming to norms might be easy and acceptable, but why not set them? With the growing empowerment and acceptance of marginalized, novel groups amid overwhelming homogenization, it’s crucial to be ourselves but also open to others.