Audreyanna Garrett, Feature Editor

What is the value of perfection? Nothing… The air that we breathe, the life we live and the very essence of our being is exactly the same as of someone adorned, or deemed perfect. Society imposes the norm that which so many Americans fix their lives around; the best car, the best figure, the best home, the best family qualities, etc. Happiness, no matter how much we endure to obtain it, should be the object of our perfection. We need to encourage happiness of the simple things in life. So often we learn the essence of life after it is either threatened or taken away. If we can recognize the value in nothing, we will appreciate everything.

Everywhere we turn we see an example of what we need to aspire to be. We see woman and men with the “perfect” figure, the “perfect” career, the “perfect” family and the “perfect” home. I am not trying to entirely criticize and credit society for our problem; parents, in most cases, feed the contradiction by allowing the children to believe that everything they see is what they should aspire to become. Some of these social norms feed into the attitudes of envy, rebellion and hate. I am by no means saying that we should entirely omit social norm because not all are negative, for example, the promotion of healthy living, optimism, education and outlaw of illicit acts; but I am simply suggesting that we reflect on the value of perfection.

Briefly consider life without socialized standards—there would theoretically be no prejudice, segregation or social classes. Social standards encourage social division. If every person is genuinely content in their skin and with their economic situation, there would be no dissension. No rivalry leaves room for peace. The peace that we so desperately long for but do not contribute to. We are guilty of being vulnerable. We are guilty for longing to fit in, so we devalue ourselves; we discredit the very attributes that make us who we are. I am not exactly sure who is setting the standard, but I do know that we are allowing it to continue. We feed into the norm, amplifying the problem by voting against individual choice or frowning upon individualism.

The object of perfection is individual choice and happiness, and with happiness comes wealth. Wealth being defined as an overwhelming presence of peace, love for self, love for neighbors and love for life. If we embrace individualism we will soon understand its gratification. If we consent to expectations acknowledge one another for what we are, we will see the change.

BE YOU. BE INFORMED. BE INSPIRED. BE CHIC.