Teen: Status

From the moment you wake up in the morning and look into the mirror (to check how messed up your hair is), to brushing your teeth (worried how crooked they look), to taking a bath (worrying about body odour), combing your hair (wondering how you will look when you step into your class) till the moment you reach your college. All these small thoughts that over populate your head, are all related to social status.

To go a little ahead, I would say, your whole life is about Social Status (and no, I am not the only wise crack who thinks this way). What I am focused on is how it affects our teenage life…

It all comes down to groups, yup social groups and you know exactly what I am talking about. There are 5 standard groups in every class room, office ,etc..

The Popular group: The group everyone wants to be in. The group you wished to belong to, but at the same time, glad you weren’t. The group consisting of shallow, self-centered, aesthetically educated people who believe..more like KNOW that they are better than everyone else. They are seen, usually at the center of the room, surrounded by over the top fake laughter and ridiculous banter. But oh god, aren’t they fun to look at!

The Not-so popular group: The group that obviously aren’t the most fashionable , economically wealthy or attention drawing, but make it up with being the average joe that knows how to have fun. The group consists of people who are most comfortable with themselves (while they still think they have lower social status since they don’t belong to the popular group) and usually are big in number. This is the group that long lasting friendships are made and true love is found. My favorite group.

The Nerdy Group: Well, I don’t need to elaborate much on this group of people. They are the technically sound, socially non-existent group that have the most success in the class room or office while not be seen around when class is over. They have read the textbooks cover to cover enough times to give Harry Potter readers a run for their money.

The Ethnic group: This is an interesting group, honestly the purest and oldest form of groups. These people have nothing, absolutely nothing in common with each other , other than their ethnicity ( Same country, Same state, language etc..) This group is very similar to the Nerdy group, but unfortunately are even more less in number and do worse academically too.

The Rebel/ Outcast group: If not for the existence for the Not-so popular group, I would be in this one, because these are the group of people that have the most fun, are the most social (while still being anti-social) and have the lowest self esteem. While they brag about being independent from social pressures of making friends and sticking to rules, they really hate their current situation. The Bikers, the Goths, the musicians etc..belong to these groups.

So, why am I writing this? Why am I being so judgmental and making assumptions that people of some groups are inferior or not happy with their lives ? Well, I may not be 100% right, being a teenager myself, but I do see some truth in what I have written . What really bothers me, is not the groups. Its the very fact that people believe, that belonging to one of these social groups DEFINES who they are and who they will be.

This is where the very rare but brilliant group comes in (its very rare though).

The Socially Aware, or No group people: These people understand social behaviors either through acquired knowledge or through unconscious awareness that groups don’t define you, hence, they are comfortable being independent as well as being dependent on social status.

They reap the benefits of social interactions and almost avoid all the problems with it. They hang out with the Popular group in parties and clubs , have heart to heart conversations with the not-so popular group , Understand their technical difficulties with the help of the nerdy group and have unadulterated fun with the Social Outcasts.

In the end, I personally hope to be part of the Socially aware group, sometimes I think I am , but then I realize I give in to social pressures and fall back into “one of them”. I honestly think, that we should seriously think twice when our parents say

“I wish I did things differently when I was your age”…

ps: This article was featured in the Digital Youth Magazine: Dfuse , Which is available for download from Dfuse.in