Dress Codes

Transitioning from middle school to high school, there were a couple things that I was extremely excited about; one of them being the dress code. For three years, I felt so restricted about my clothing choices as the boundaries of what I could wear seemed to be very limited. When middle school passed and I was getting ready to enter high school, I found myself free to dress to my interests and express myself through my clothes. It had become possible to utilize my whole closet from day to day.  

I remember out of the policies that they had, the one that I detested the most was the one that stated that you couldn't wear straps thinner than three inches. Thinking about this rule, it wasn't the rule itself that I loathed so much, but how they enforced it.

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Knowing that I couldn't wear a tank top thinner than three inches, I thought it'd be okay to put a cardigan over the tank top the whole day so that I wasn't exposing my shoulders or the straps of the tank top. I The whole day had almost been through and no one said a thing about it, so I thought that what I was doing was completely okay. At the end of 6th period, my P.E class, I was changing back from my uniform into my normal clothes when I heard the teacher's voice yelling from across the room. I had turned around and she was pointing at me. I walked down to her, fully dressed in what I had worn that day, when she told me that I wasn't allowed to cover my tank top with the cardigan because it wasn't appropriate and that she should've assigned me lunch detention for doing so. I felt so embarrassed about it afterwards because of the eyes that stared me down as I walked back to get my backpack and the feeling of getting in trouble.

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The first day into high school, everything about the dress code was so different. Looking around, tank tops without a cover-up was quite ubiquitous along with denim shorts and sandals. This was a common thing to see until the cold weather rolled in and people were bundling up in boots and jackets. I began to wear shorts, sandals, and tank tops too on those extremely hot days. It was a different feeling than in middle school. That change in feeling was probably because I was no longer melting in my jeans and long sleeves when it was 80 degrees or higher.

Due to the fact that the less strict boundaries and enforcements of the dress code, there were people who decided to push the limits of what they could wear. From time to time, it seemed as if people were coming to school half-naked. I support being able to wear what you want, but there's a line that shouldn't be crossed. For someone who dislikes dress codes, I found myself understanding why one exist. In the end, people should be able to choose to wear what they desire, but while doing so, they should think about how appropriate it is for where they are going. 

Whispering Winds

 Fresh pine, crisp winter air, and a rarely felt sense of serenity; all found in the mountains. This week already feels like a slow passing with camp coming in five days. Filled with anticipation, I wait anxiously for Friday to come. This year, I will be heading up to Whispering Winds in Julian with those in my faith formation class.

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 For the longest time, I've been dreading this trip away from the city. Giving up one of my treasured weekends, the thought of having to find time on Sunday night to cram all the work I couldn't do, and being far away from my bed made me the opposite of excited and happy. My best choice for the many months leading up to camp was to place that undesired thought on the shelf and forget about it until I had to pack my bags. However, during class last week, my group began to talk about the preparations for the weekend and what we would be doing. At first, I sat there with a fake plastered smile on the outside and eye roll and pout on the inside. As my facilitator and junior facilitators began to talk about their experiences at confirmation camp, I found myself erasing that pout and putting on a real smile.

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 I had forgotten what pre-confirmation camp was like last year. I had forgotten how blissful, spiritual, and amazing that trip was. Like the months leading up to this upcoming weekend, last year's anticipation was the same; I didn't want to go. I remember sitting on the bus on the way the way there; hoping that the weekend would quickly pass by and I would be back in Mira Mesa. That weekend became better and better with each talk that was given, each personal thought uncovered, and each newly made connection with someone I thought I'd never talk to. That weekend did go by very fast; not because I wanted it to, but because I hadn't wanted it to. I feel like time flies when you wish that it wouldn't.

That feeling that I had as I left camp last year has reemerged. Reality will be left behind the moment I step off of the bus and onto the unpaved dirt path. I'm ready to escape the stress of school for 48 hours, my phone that seems to be glued to my hand 24/7, and the constant hustle and bustle. My wishes for this weekend is to be happy, open myself up to others, and get connected with my faith.