2008 Woodie Awards
Finding Individuality
Now is the time to take responsibility for our actions.
Billy Fleming
Issue date: 10/24/02 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The first reaction I generally receive when a friend steps into my car for the first time is, "You listen to Alanis Morissette?"
Yes, I do. Quite frequently, as a matter of fact. The so-called "angry" Canadian wailing goddess is most likely my favorite recording artist, and that seems to strike most people as bizarre. Often seen as the epitome of female rage, particularly against ex-boyfriends, Morissette rocked the world with her album "Jagged Little Pill", paving the way for a new generation of female rockers. As an 18-year-old male, my affinity to her music is an understandably confusing one, but her relentless "psychobabble" has become a major part of my life and in some ways has defined who I've become.
Throughout the first 18 years of one's life, one generally associates with the same group of people.
Cliques develop in middle school and continue on through high school, creating a sense of division (but security, as well) among various groups of students. Members of such groups are expected to listen to certain genres of music, attend different sorts of events, and so on. Like it or not, conformity is a major part of high school.
In college, things have changed. Although I am attending college in my hometown, I only recognize a handful of students on campus from my high school. My classes are filled with new faces of all ages, each with different interests and backgrounds.
High school students getting an early start in college sit side-by-side with 40-year-old mothers returning to get their degree. Because of these differences, it may be difficult for a new college student to accept and understand their peers.
The concept of cliques seems to be breaking apart, with more participation and communication occurring between various age groups. Additionally, I feel that as college students we begin to understand our own individuality and start to take steps toward discovering our personal identities.
Whether it is through our music, our hobbies, or our cultural backgrounds, each person has one's own way of living one's life.
Yes, I do. Quite frequently, as a matter of fact. The so-called "angry" Canadian wailing goddess is most likely my favorite recording artist, and that seems to strike most people as bizarre. Often seen as the epitome of female rage, particularly against ex-boyfriends, Morissette rocked the world with her album "Jagged Little Pill", paving the way for a new generation of female rockers. As an 18-year-old male, my affinity to her music is an understandably confusing one, but her relentless "psychobabble" has become a major part of my life and in some ways has defined who I've become.
Throughout the first 18 years of one's life, one generally associates with the same group of people.
Cliques develop in middle school and continue on through high school, creating a sense of division (but security, as well) among various groups of students. Members of such groups are expected to listen to certain genres of music, attend different sorts of events, and so on. Like it or not, conformity is a major part of high school.
In college, things have changed. Although I am attending college in my hometown, I only recognize a handful of students on campus from my high school. My classes are filled with new faces of all ages, each with different interests and backgrounds.
High school students getting an early start in college sit side-by-side with 40-year-old mothers returning to get their degree. Because of these differences, it may be difficult for a new college student to accept and understand their peers.
The concept of cliques seems to be breaking apart, with more participation and communication occurring between various age groups. Additionally, I feel that as college students we begin to understand our own individuality and start to take steps toward discovering our personal identities.
Whether it is through our music, our hobbies, or our cultural backgrounds, each person has one's own way of living one's life.