| Teenage Turmoil | | | | social gathering of sorts. From a child attending |
| | | | high school, popularity is important because it |
| | | | decides where you sit at lunch, which clique you |
| “I dress the part,” Woodward went on to | | | | fall into, who you will go to prom |
| say, “the way we [teenagers] dress is a | | | | with—popularity is a vital organ to the student |
| costume for that role we are playing…we could | | | | body. |
| be the bad boy, the good girl, the nerd, or the | | | | Picture the group of high school students as a |
| social outcast who dresses like a rocker.” | | | | whole—they are a body, quite literally. |
| Kurt is seen strutting around campus with a single | | | | Popularity decides which organ you are and how |
| folder, a Les Paul strapped to his back, a pencil | | | | you aid your body with your skills. |
| behind his ear, and a paperback book folded in his | | | | Now that the popularity level has been acquired, |
| back pocket—he plays the role of the | | | | there is minimal tolerance for intermingling, unless |
| misunderstood outcast who lives for his music, | | | | it is business only—i.e. the nerds getting paid to |
| but it goes without saying that he is an intelligent | | | | do assignments. |
| individual, as the few passers-by view that the | | | | Such stereotyping tears apart friendships that |
| book he carries along is actually Metamorphosis by | | | | have been long lasting, up until the point of high |
| Franz Kafka. | | | | school. |
| Kurt is just one of the majorities of teenagers | | | | Regrettably, this is inevitable because the teenage |
| who has become entombed in the overly-critical, | | | | stereotypes put in place force friendships |
| stereotypical, identification of teenagers. | | | | between “your kind” among the cliques. |
| There are the “bad boys” whom all the | | | | Very few kids break the barriers of social |
| girls should stay away from, yet fall for anyways | | | | discrimination, and even fewer do it successfully. |
| disregarding the parental concept of ‘ulterior | | | | The way to break through the once-believed |
| motives.’ | | | | indestructible barricade is through a universal |
| Then there are the “good girls”—you | | | | language. Many assume English is, or should be, |
| know the ones that say “yes ma’am” | | | | the universal language however not all cultures |
| and “no sir” and sit in their swank clothes, | | | | know the English language. Even though English is |
| crossed legged. | | | | not the universal language, one still exists, and |
| Your typical nerd is classified as the common | | | | does so in everyone’s life no matter what |
| bookworm with a twist in fashion/ social sense; | | | | language they speak—music. Music is a |
| the high water jeans, dress shirt, lace ups, | | | | dramatic part of every culture; it doesn’t |
| glasses, and a pocket protector. Many adolescents | | | | matter if you are Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, or if |
| can spot a “nerd” a mile away, whenever | | | | you are an immigrant because music is |
| a book report or a project needs to be done, but | | | | universal—music sends messages to the public |
| is otherwise invisible. | | | | in every culture. |
| Speaking of invisibility, we are left with the | | | | If more musicians, who are former high school |
| outcast—“the rocker”/ “emo”/ | | | | students, took the time to compose a song |
| “indie kid” who essentially operate | | | | album about tolerance and to fight the high school |
| according to their music tastes, but are often | | | | stereotypes, then there would be less of damage |
| misunderstood and have the ability, unlike most | | | | to the psyche of the already unstable high school |
| teenagers, to see the big picture. | | | | children. |
| Although most people do not consider themselves | | | | Children, especially those in high school, appreciate |
| judgmental or bias, the truth is that everyone falls | | | | music greatly. |
| victim to stereotypes and we were the ones to | | | | An enthusiastic ‘good girl’ and senior at |
| create them in the first place. A good number of | | | | Charter Oak High School, Vanessa Crockett |
| adults do not consider colleagues’ remarks | | | | expressed, “music is my life. I live, eat, and |
| and disapproval but teenagers do and | | | | breathe music.” |
| stereotyping them only further induces the cycle. | | | | Therefore, tolerance and anti-stereotypical |
| Kurt, unfortunately, is a casualty to the warfare | | | | messages should be implemented in today’s |
| of perception and “normalcy” however he | | | | obsessive culture. |
| is not alone. Many children all over are | | | | “Honestly, if Snow Patrol or Avenged |
| stereotyped as Kurt was, thus deciding his | | | | Sevenfold performed songs that prove these |
| popularity or status, if you will, in the school. | | | | [stereotypes] wrong, then more people would |
| As one reads this, one questions whether | | | | listen…I know I would,” commented Frankie |
| popularity actually means anything. | | | | McMillan, a sophomore at San Dimas High School. |
| “People knowing your name at school makes | | | | In short: stereotypes are rampant in the lives of |
| absolutely no difference, because once you get | | | | high school students and have yet to be |
| out into the world you start over,” | | | | contained. However with music change is possible; |
| commented Mary Ellen Ashby, a neighborly | | | | with music stereotypes might cease to exist, |
| bystander. | | | | which could reduce violence in high schools, being |
| While all of what was previously said is true, one | | | | as though most high school fights are fought |
| must look at the child’s point of view. School, | | | | between people belonging to different cliques. |
| high school especially, is seen by children as a | | | | |