Many motion pictures depict lives of high school students and their awkward journeys through those horrifying four years. For example, in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, audiences are intrigued by a young girl who struggles with fitting in and not being noticed by her crush. She ends up turning his head after several other characters are sucked into the mind games of cliques and high school drama. In the world-renowned classic, The Breakfast Club, five high school students serving a Saturday detention discover just how judgmental people can really be. They learn that their worlds are only created by what society forced upon them due to their style, their friends, or even their family income. After watching movies like these, I found myself being terrified by what growing up and what high school was going to do to me. I didn’t want to be constantly judged, resulting in an insecure image of myself and of others. I didn’t want to become depressed or confused. All the stress about what I didn’t want made me confused about who I wanted to be, or who I should be in the eyes of others.

Through my transition into high school, I’ve learned the messages media and society project about teenagers and judgment are true. It’s inevitable. But one other thing I’ve also learned is that it’s okay — especially when there is a place where all of this stuff can disappear.

Scituate High School has always been a place where students can express themselves for who they are and not for what other people want them to be. Through sports and clubs like Allies Not Bystanders, Drama Club, and even The Scituation, students can just be themselves. At SHS you don’t have to let high school scare you; instead, high school can be the place where you meet your best friends, or discover new interests or new things about yourself.

Are you someone who thinks you can’t join in and be involved because nobody asked you, or you don’t know anyone? Well, HEY! This is your new friend telling you that I want you to join me in making your high school experience memorable. Hopefully, you’ll look back in ten years and say, “This is the place where it all started — where everything came together — the place where I became my own person with the help of all the clubs, teams, and friends who helped shape me along the way.” Start here. Don’t be shy – we’ve all got your back. So, what do you say…will you join me and the rest of your classmates in changing the scary, judgmental, insecure image of high school?