Stereotypes and Stereotyping - Programmed and Labeled for Life Essay

Programmed and Labeled for Life Here it is, college, a new stroll down the pathway of life. This should be an opportunity to show more of which we are. College has been said to be a process of coming into our own. It's not like high school, there is less pressure of conformity, or is it too late? I believe that by high school graduation we've already conformed based on what others tell us; in high school we have our futures already laid out. Picture a student walking down the hallway carrying a full book-bag, a pencil case in one hand, and a trumpet case in the other. What do you think of this teenager, besides the fact that he's a band student that likes pencils? To answer your question, the opinion towards this student has already been established. Shout-outs are already being called to him: "Loser," "Geek", and "Dork", just to name a few. Now imagine another student walking down that same hallway, this person is wearing a football jersey, has no back-pack on, but rather a single book under his arm and a pencil behind his ear. Shout- out are being called to him as well: "you're the man," and "hey playa." After all these years of shout-outs and name-callings, over time we begin to believe those words. We carry these labels around with us, and by college we have already established what we're told to be. Popularity is the foundation for most name-calling. The decipher for whether you're known as a "loser" or "the man", depends on your popularity. Popularity is similar to the game of cards, the higher the card; the more it's worth. For a student with a low card, he or she might feel as if there is no way of winning. I interviewed a college student who spoke about her popularity in high school as a low card. "I had a... ...e people pleasers, believing that's their mission. Living in a college dorm, I see a lot of different people, and I guarantee that I can tell who was who in high school. After high school, the people called "Dorks", "Nerds", and "Geeks" all seem to be overachievers. Those labeled as being The "brain" in high school with "no friends", have filled that description later on.. The name-calling and shout-outs in the hallways have also lowered these "nerdy" students into believing they're unsuitable to make friends. Those college students, who were part of the popular crowd in high school, are now underachievers. Those who were previously known as socially cool, feel as if that's all they should be. Whether you were part of the popular crowd, or part of the nerd crowd, your future has already been established since your driven by these labels you heard in high school.