Going into high school, students begin to express themselves more. This typically implies spending more time getting ready in the morning. Whether this means outfit planning, a 10-step hair routine, or spending 30 minutes drawing the perfect eyeliner wing, a lot of work goes into getting ready for school. Despite the best-laid routines, by the last bell at the end of the day, it seems like everyone just rolled out of bed. Being in a school environment undoes all the hard work people put in before 7 am.
In recent months, a trend has emerged on the internet regarding “School air” and how it affects people. Although it is taken in a humorous sense, some real effects are caused by exposure to a school environment. Higher acne, untamable hair, and ruined makeup make people hesitant to put in as much effort as they would like to in the morning.
From personal experience, I believe that the reason for this phenomenon is the lack of self-awareness. In a home environment, people usually have nearly constant access to a mirror, allowing them to make adjustments throughout the day to keep them looking their best. At school there is limited bathroom time, and I seriously doubt that students use all of their breaks restyling their hair. Although this seems like a bad thing, it is good to keep students focused on their work. People should not be focused on how they look when they are supposed to be analyzing Shakespeare.
Another factor is after-school activities. It is common knowledge that people sweat when doing physical activities (especially teenagers). When wiping sweat and dirt off of your face under the boiling hot sun, you usually aren’t thinking about how much makeup you’re taking with it or how messy your hair gets.
Looking from a more general perspective, school is a dirty place. One could walk into the building with smooth, flawless skin and leave with six new pimples. No matter how hard people try not to touch their faces, it is impossible to protect yourself from the dirt and germs floating around. While this is an important issue, the school air trend centers more around superficial matters.
Dover High School junior Pheonix Davis shared her feelings on the subject. “I look picture perfect at my house… Then I come [to school] and look in the mirror and see a rat.” She is not referring to a rodent as one might have seen in the old school, rather she is referring to herself.
It is clear to see that a genuine problem stems from the school air issue: self-esteem. It is apparent that looks are very important to teens, and their self-esteem is at risk when they are unable to look their best throughout the day. To stop being affected by “School Air”, students need to let go of their dependence on outward looks.
Contrary to popular belief, looks are not everything. In order to truly feel confident, one must focus on a positive attitude and character development. One of the best ways to achieve this is to find peers with similar interests. When a student feels like they belong, that is when they will truly feel like themselves.