Young Free Expression
I am wearing my clean white and purple shoes and the laces are not tied. My jeans fit well around my waist and hold up against the force of gravity thanks to my brown belt. A clean white shirt covers my torso and a hair tie holds back my dreadlocks. There is a LiveStrong bracelet on my wrist as I peer through my glasses down at my purple shuffling songs as the world goes on around me. I haven’t uttered a world, yet I have already spoken volumes to the on lookers thanks to my attire.
Expression is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as: a mode, means, or use of significant representation or symbolism; especially: felicitous or vivid indication or depiction of mood or sentiment. As a young person in today’s society one may feel constraint as an individual if they are unable to express themselves through primary and secondary mediums such as speech, art, fashion, music, writing and dance.
I personally believe that it is important for people to express themselves in a way that is both positive and meaningful to them. There was a time when I was a young student in school that I felt misunderstood and unnoticed. I didn’t know how to engage with my peers in a way that allowed me to empathize and sympathize with them. So I became involved with sports which allowed me an outlet of expression through the playing field. Eventually this led me to be able to openly express myself to my peers and others through various mediums. Of which I earned an appreciation for writing.
Writing allows me to open myself up to others in a way that offers them direct uncensored insight on my feelings, thoughts and ideals. The feeling I get when I am able to write a piece and have a stranger read it or listen to me read it and instantly connect with me and understand the mood, visualize the scene and relate to any of the characters is powerful. I am fearful that there are young people out there who haven’t found their own medium through which they can show the world who they are. Everyone deserves a voice, a vision, a form of expression.
I agree, everyone should have a medium to express themselves, even if it is to express privately fir personal reasons. In a world of social media, and new ways to be creative (many examples, even music making software on Mac is one of the mediums), having a voice is more significant than ever before, and finding a way/place to apply yourself.