Courtesy: LL Students
The old adage says “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Often spoken yet never applied, many of us still rely on stereotypes, assumptions and quick judgments when we see or meet new people. We carry around certain schemas and latch onto any information that fits our judgment of a person, without ever truly getting to know the person. I have seen it time and time again, but in almost all of these cases people are wrong. You cannot accurately describe someone just by his or her appearance. There is so much more to people than meets the eye, and we all need to remind ourselves of that.
I am the social butterfly. The girl who is confident, well-off and can make friends naturally. People assume my life is easy. But those guesses are so far from the truth and no one seems to see it or believe it.
People think I’m confident and am my own person. They assume I’m strong because I don’t drink or party and I always stand firm in that choice, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t that way. These choices make me stand out, especially here at FSU, and sometimes I wish I wasn’t different in that respect. On Saturday nights when I’m headed home for the night, I see everyone heading out, off to have drunken adventures and dance all night. I am my own person, but I sometimes yearn to be like everyone else.
People assume I’m wealthy and I can have anything I want, but the truth is I haven’t bought anything non-essential in months. I’m forced to watch what I buy and I sometimes have to say no to going out. People see my nice clothes and jump to a conclusion without noticing the clearance tag I probably forgot to remove. My life is not as carefree as people assume, and I doubt anyone’s is.
Courtesy: Psychology
I’m the social butterfly. Public speaking is a breeze, I can talk to anyone and making friends has never been an issue. At least those are the comments I heard this past week. If only people knew that I didn’t eat breakfast the morning of that speech because the nerves and stress made the thought of food repulsive. Social situations come “naturally” to me – yet the last time I attempted to go to a social event I panicked and went home.
These are the things people don’t see and the stories I don’t tell. This is my story, but it isn’t necessarily unique. Everyone is constantly battling with others’ assumptions and judgments to prove him or her wrong. The sorority girl isn’t just a pretty, rich girl who spends all her time partying. The athlete has so much more to offer to the world than just strength and agility. And the person who has a “perfect” life is probably dealing with hardships just like everyone else.
Courtesy: Reflections
Humans are complex and dynamic and have so many layers. When you meet someone, be open-minded. Listen to what they have to say, ask questions and don’t assume certain answers. We have all felt the negative impact of stereotyping and have all helped to perpetuate it. So here’s your reminder to try your best. Don’t judge, assume or make a conclusion about someone by his or her appearance, race, gender, major or even by your first interaction. Chances are you’ll be misguided.