The other day I found myself observing the people of Grambling while I scrolled through my Instagram timeline in the cafeteria. The question came to mind, “when did things change?”
When our parents were our age, it seemed like they put more effort in developing themselves as well rounded individuals worrying about having a closet full of clothes. On a daily basis, I see a campus full of females that seem to be trying to be the “it girl” and guys trying to be “that dude.” When did this become the number one priority to people?
I understand that everyone wants to be best dressed, but there’s a thin line between awareness of your appearance and vanity. One of Webster’s definitions for vanity is inflated pride in oneself or one’s appearance, and I feel most people in our generation is guilty of this.
Females seem to be unable to do or go anywhere without loads of makeup and expensive weave. Males seem to be no better, not willing to wear any shoes if they are not Jordan’s or a shirt if it isn’t Polo or the latest “in” trend. When did appearance become the main focus of a whole generation?
Females and guys make it late to class daily because they are busy getting their outfit for the day together and prepared in the hope of getting compliments or catching the eye of that someone. But I ask is your appearance more important than your well being in class?
We all came to Grambling in hopes of one day walking across the stage and receiving a degree.
I feel like the excessive vanity that our generation has begun to show is not a firm foundation to bring the next generation into. We need to show the next generation that life is more than looking good and being in the most trendy clothes.
Anyone can put together a nice outfit, but what’s under that nice outfit? What else do you bring to the table? Once the initial understanding of someone’s attractiveness is gone, you have to present some form of quality personality traits.
It feels good to get a compliment for your outfit, but I feel better when someone compliments one of my intangible traits. Those are the things matter in my eyes. They are more important than appearance and wearing what’s in style. When it’s all said and done, if the only nice thing people can say about you at your funeral is that you always looked and dressed nice, was that really a productive life?