Let’s be real. We are living in a world of delusions.
After a long stressful week, I sit on the couch with my blanket, opening up my NERDS Gummy Clusters to watch one of my comfort movies: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. As I watch Lara Jean hopelessly chase after Peter Kavinsky, I can not help but wonder one thing: am I doing high school wrong?
Lara Jean faces an unexpected turn in her life resulting in a relationship with popular jock, Peter Kavinsky. The film explores important concepts such as multi-racial relationships as well as the classic stereotypes that build comfort and warmth in its viewers.
Many shows and movies portray high school inaccurately. Viewers are faced with the conflict of comparison to what is being portrayed online.
Media consumption, ranging from social media to movies has created a fine line between fiction and reality, setting the expectation that every moment should be filled with excitement. As you enter through the doors of Coppell High School, the fantasies are quickly overshadowed by heaps of homework and everyday challenges that are rarely shown online.
While this teenage dream might be a reality to some, it does not reflect the overall high school experience, creating a false image and misleading a young audience.
Most high school students either work, participate in extracurriculars, have homework or are studying for a test after school. We simply are not able to fulfill the standards set by the media.
It is not just shows and movies that showcase this phenomenon, as social media shares snapshots of people’s “perfect” lives, leading many students to internalize these moments in the wrong way.
The media we consume causes more dissatisfaction than happiness in our lives. Some moments may be picture-perfect, but most are bland and stressful, and you should not feel bad about that.
This is not meant to shame movies or media, but rather a call to appreciate your life as is. It is important to differentiate and know that the way you are living is OK.
Contrary to popular belief, your high school experience does not always need to consist of being a high achieving student that has a plan, with the ideal social life and “perfect” boyfriend. It is OK to spend some of your nights cramming for a test, it is OK to not go out every weekend with your friends or your significant other, it is OK to not have the classic High School Musical experience.
Embrace the meh. Be OK with the meh.
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