With anything in life we set ourselves goals and limits. With this there are expectations which allow us to push our own personal boundaries. To be 10 I had to let go a lot of what I knew and learn about the world from a new perspective. To be a child figuring out who you are is the hardest thing. The challenge is to be authentic and original. Yes my mum said every time I moved schools, "just be yourself, they'll love you" who's mother didn't say this. But in truth how do we know what being "ourself" is. Yes i may love horses and partying and reading,and I am loud...O and I'm from Zim. So who would like this? When we enter in a new school all we want is for people to like us and therefore at times we loose ourselves to fit in. This eventually creates a new person, you change and grow up and pick up things from others bad and good but all in all we effect one another.
We critic each other and place people in groups according to their likes, stereotyping based on physical attributes, preferences, looks, class, income...the list goes on and sadly it starts way before the age of ten without even realizing it. Kids can be cruel to each other with out realizing and those that are different are to shy and self-conscious to stand out. Later on though there will be the jocks, the arty kids, and the Southern Suburb crowd and to be distinguished in this way carries expectations. However our biggest judge which is critical and punishing is ourselves. We may judge people but the saying goes the judge you right back.
I have definitely figured out from this brief that I want to be ME. NO longer a ten year old that still has to figure themselves out but me a young woman who is very harsh on herself, negative to protect herself but determined in the sense that who I am is everything. Where I have been, who I have met and interacted with, all my experiences up till now.My life till my 20th year has changed and is developing me into my own unique person. Meanwhile Kayla my cousin 10 years younger exactly has a long way to go but each day will be something new without even realizing it and eventually looking back being somewhere for just a year will change how you hold your body and appearance to the world.
Being independent is a luxury that we are given from our parents and taking advantage of it is simply not fair. Being selfish and wanting everything in sight to me is not healthy there has to be a way to change the way people are with their children. We are the future and so far I have learnt we don't get what we want, we have to work for it. Each individual person has to have a sense of pride and status in the fact that they have achieved something in their life not by simply living off their parents credit.
I am glad I had this opportunity to deal with my passed and unravel the thought process and life of a 10 year old.
I definitely fell into idea of basing people on how they are stereotyped. I did it myself. I was the 'Jock', away every weekend rowing and never socialising with the other crowds. We would be called the "Crazy Rowers". People would say we were a type of clan, you either were a rower or you weren't.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad how you are divided in society based on what image you portray... and what's even worst is that it doesn't change when you get older.
There are days where I really wish I could be ten again 10 again to have a stress free life and not have to worry about university work! - but in this day and age - I am SO glad i'm not 10 - the youth are so judgemental!YOung girls are extremely bitchy - I remember you mentioned when telling me about the birthday party you attended that some of the girls were 2faced about other dresses - when they saw them face to face they'd say "ah your dress is so pretty" and once the girl passed by she'd pulled away saying otherwise - that is SO horrible!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, I wasn't teased or picked on - I suppose we did have a small class and all the people in my class i had known since i was 4 years old - I really enjoyed my childhood - but from what I see in the youth today - I often babysit the kids that live next door to me in somerset west and they are very much into "free thinking, ,making up their own games etc, but as soon as friends from school come over - they change their attitude completely to look and seem cool! - why can't we just be ourselves and not have to feel worried about being judged!