Nothing To Be Afraid Of

There’s Nothing To Be Afraid Of

Ahmed & Nissim: With the many faces, characters, and creativity blossoming inside of Hackensack High, it’s not hard to feel like you don’t fit in or belong. Hackensack houses nearly 2,000 students with large voices and even larger attitudes.  Don’t get us wrong, don’t take that to mean you should just fly under the radar. To all the people who feel like outcasts roaming the halls of HHS, we salute YOU! You are the silent majority that allows Hackensack to be divergent. The kids that aren’t on the football team but rather engage in the school plays. The kids who decorate the walls with fascinating art that is viewed daily. The kids who rather spend the night at home, rather than coming home piss drunk or too high for life. The kids who are comfortable rocking skechers instead of a new pair of Jordans. The kids who are overlooked and underrated because they’re not the funniest or ‘most popular’ person in the classroom. YOU are just as important as anybody else who steps foot inside of this high school, don’t let anyone tell you different!

It’s important to realize that if you are remaining isolated, the people you would most strongly connect to are the ones that are probably remaining hidden as well. The easiest way people lose themselves is from the fear of being alone. The feeling that no one is there for you or that no one truly understands you. We’re here to tell you that it’s ok to take your own path or do your own thing. Have you ever heard the quote by John Mason? “ You were born an original, dont die a copy”.

Hackensack is extremely diverse. A word you’ll encounter an endless amount of times when talking about HHS. Look hard enough and you’ll find someone exactly like you. They may not be in the same social circles as you, but they’re there. Trust us. Accept yourself for who you are and stay secure about that. When you be yourself, the right people will gravitate towards you. Don’t lose yourself trying to please or fit in with others. You’re amazing the way you are. You’re unique. You’re a blessing.  

Teachers often emphasize the significance of joining clubs for various reasons and the average student will say “They’re just chatting, clubs are for lames.”  Clubs will more than likely introduce you to like minded people with similar interests. Human beings need to interact with each other. You ever see Cast Away with Tom Hanks?? The man was talking to a volleyball named Wilson. Don’t be the guy making his own Wilson Volleyball. Socialization is key. Get Involved. Don’t be afraid. Talk to people.

We’ve all seen our fair share of students who have totally given up on their values and beliefs. Those students that let their inner selves take a backseat role to the kid that others wanted them to be, or thought others wanted. The students who give into the stereotypes we spoke on in our last post. Those students that you walk past in the hallway, or follow on social media and say “ They were never like that before” or “ They done got to highschool and completely changed up” yet the most common one of all is, “ They weren’t doing this until they started hanging with so and so”. Think of the student who was never like “that” back in those good old middle school days. Think of the student who is the exact person they promised you and themselves they’d never be. Think of a friend you lost to this misfortune. We all know that person that we just wish we could smack back into reality, into the person they truly are. We all know that person that we wish we could look straight in the eyes and say, “ Stop trying so hard. Be you.”

We clown and look down upon each other so much sometimes we forget to take people’s feelings into account. Of course, jokes are fun but never should you bring someone to the point of wanting to change who they are for the jokes to stop. We as a community need to stop casting people aside and instead begin to include them. We need to understand that we all go to the same school, that we are all part of the same society. The isolation some feel towards Hackensack is probably why school spirit seems to be lacking. Students don’t want to support a school that doesn't support them! Include everybody and everybody will rise together.