I remember playing a game in English class during an activity that prepared us to read The Odyssey. Our teacher would read a question out loud, and we would go to the left side of the room if we agreed and the right side if we disagreed. After my teacher asked one of the questions, I, among many other students, confidently disagreed, while only two students agreed. I began to admire the two girls for having a new perspective, but, during our discussion about the question, one of the girls listened to our classmates’ perspectives and changed her mind, and she walked to the other side of the room. A few moments later, the other panicked and joined us.
This small moment showed me how quickly people can abandon their own opinions when the pressure to act and think like others kicks in. Pressure to conform to societal norms inhibits our ability to think for ourselves. GDS students need to take more social risks; otherwise we will lose our ability to form our own opinions.
After the school bell rings in the morning, adults at school constantly tell you where to sit in the classroom, when you can eat lunch, when you are dismissed and when to speak when you raise your hand. Though GDS claims to empower students to be their authentic selves with its lack of strict regulations and its mission statement, it cannot prevent social conformity’s impact on the student body.
Everyone is watching you. Social pressure to dress and speak a certain way and even sit with a certain group of people is everywhere. What you believe are your own choices are really responses to the pressure of conformity in your environment. The Adidas Samba, a shoe released in 1949, sat silently on shelves until its popularity suddenly spiked in 2024. After numerous celebrities were seen wearing OG Samba colorways, Sambas quickly began filling up the hallways, and I even bought a pair. While the Sambas’ popularity is beginning to die down, it’s only a matter of time before another viral craze begins. Just seeing celebrities act or dress a certain way unconsciously shapes your personal taste. Viral trends constantly change people’s style, and this diminishes their originality, which can negatively affect one’s sense of self.
The pressure to conform is especially prominent in teenagers, who constantly seek social rewards and feel the need to be encircled by friends. I remember being ecstatic when I received an email saying Poker Club would be having their first meeting. I frequently play poker with my brother in college, so I saw the club as an opportunity to meet new people who shared the same interest. However, as I walked by room 104, a stream of guys entered the room, and I turned away as I realized that I would be the only freshman girl in the room, because people might consider poker to be a game for boys. While I regret making that choice now, at the time, leaving seemed like the only option. While I understand the desire to stay in your comfort zone, we should be aware of the line between seeking healthy relationships and missing out on opportunities for fear of social rejection.
In our society, people will never truly be free from other people’s influence, but we can strive for it. Don’t hesitate to speak out about social issues or assert your opinion. In social situations, resist conformity by being true to yourself, speaking honestly and sharing your opinions with others.