Humans Chameleons?

                Constantly I ponder how one person go from “Imma Gangstaaa: I sag my pants, I don’t need no belt, I listen to hard core rap music,” to “Howdy ya’ll! Wanna mosey on down to the river and go huntin’ for them deer while we blast our country music?” This change in character is becoming significantly more present in modern day society.

              Reality TV, radio and movies have a lot to do with the constant yearning to fit in. This all relates back to self-esteem. According to Teens Health ,“Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more.” Since many people think self-esteem can produce the feelings of being worthwhile and important, they have no problem becoming a "Human Chameleon."

     Although self-esteem and body image is a way for a person to become more confident in his/her self, it is not the right answer. It is wrong for a person to be constantly morphing them self into what society dubs as hip and popular. In 2011 it was fashionable to take part in acting and dressing like “a gangster” which includes wearing pants down to the knees, putting on flat bill hats on sideways, and listening to the rap genre of music. Now becoming “a hick” is the new fad. Everyday more and more people are showing up in public with belt buckles, cowboy boots, and camouflage clothing. How does altering everything about personality and image make someone feel more accepted? It doesn’t.
     
     The public is so focused on changing who we are to become accepted. As a kid you learn to be true to yourself and love the person you are. Changing everything about yourself is not encompassing these simple statements. There is bound to be serious repercussions from changing everything that is taught when younger. I wonder:

• How can people who have done nothing but alter their lives teach their children to be the person they want to be when they grow up? Parents whohave morphed into multiple personalities over the course of a few years cannot teach this lesson to their children.  
• Where does the sense of morals and values go? When you live in a world that is constantly full of “want-to-bes” morals are bound to be thrown aside. The more people focus on their physical appearance, the less they care about anything else. Fitting in is not the only part of life that matters. Being true to yourself will get you much further in life than being someone you were not born to be. Barak Obama did not become the president of the United States by changing his beliefs and skin color to be accepted by the American population. J.K. Rowling did not become a famous author by writing about a cliche and overused topic to be accepted by readers of all ages.  
• How will this cycle stop? Every person that falls under this morphing spell is another original person lost. Another clone made. What is going to happen when the entire population becomes one big group of clones?

     This cycle needs to be stopped abruptly. Instead of trying to become the next new trend, we need to focus on being who we are. There is no reason to worry about not being accepted. If every single person were to be themselves, there is bound to be another person with the same similar interests as him/her. Look past the exterior and worry more about what is on the inside.  It is a simple as that. Be the person you were born to be and nothing more.