We all know how to perform. We know when to smile, laugh when others laugh, and say “I’m fine” when asked. Yet when the silence creeps in and the world goes quiet at night, who are you? Who are you when there’s no audience? Who are you when there’s no expectations? Who are you when there is no judgement? Maybe the real versions of ourselves aren’t who we put on display for others, but maybe it’s the version of ourselves we only get to meet in the silence.
Sometimes people have to put on this facade in order to “fit in” or “pretend to be okay”. “I kind of exaggerate at school. I’m more quiet around family and friends,” senior Cole Payne said. We end up becoming someone different when around others, or we pretend to be too much to ‘impress’ people.
“I feel like I’m a naturally outgoing person and I like to be my true self around friends.” senior Ian Yeatts says. When there’s a crowd in front of someone, they tend to scrunch up and hide away because they fear judgement and even have fear of not being accepted.
A person can care about so many things big or small, but half of the time those things we care deeply about stays hidden because the fear of it being considered silly to others haunts us. When the fear of that lingers for too long, we end up acting as if we don’t care about it at all. A lot of the time students care about what others think of them, yet they won’t say out loud. “I care about the way people see me.” junior John Adkerson said. The trepidation of being seen as “too much” or “not enough” hangs around the back of our minds on a daily basis.
“I care about how I look,” junior Leah Blackwell says. “I care when someone says something hurtful to me,” Blake Pruitt said. There’s so many things people don’t realize others care deeply of until someone breaks. We care about how we look, sound, act, and even walk. In this generation, all everyone does is care what others think; however,it’s hard to survive something like that for too long.
Despite the exhaustion from the hardships of life, there are moments where the world goes quiet and all we have is our true selves. “Playing golf is the time when I feel most myself and also playing a sport that I love.” Yeatts said. “In Dollywood, December 21, 2024, I was with my family and friends and during that time is when I felt most myself.” teacher Michelle Carter says.
When there’s no audience for us to impress we end up revealing who we really are. The question we ask ourselves more times than we count is, “Who are you when no one’s around to impress?” Are you someone different or are you the person everyone sees everyday? “Someone who doesn’t change how they act to fit others’ expectations.” Payne said. “I care less about what others think of me.” Pruitt said.
When surrounded by people who don’t really know us well, we have a habit of protecting a part of us that we cherish deeply and protect at all costs. Many people protect their heart because they fear getting it broken again. Some people even protect their emotions as a coping mechanism. We don’t always like to let people see us cry or sad because we don’t want to be seen as ‘weak’. However, something people rarely protect is their compassion. We don’t want people to damage us so badly to the point where they change us entirely and destroy the compassion we hold within ourselves.
Another question that runs in our minds is, “In raw form, what will people see?” Do you hide the raw form of yourself because you’re scared of what others might see, or is it because you don’t want to give someone the chance to ruin that version of you? “A tendered hearted person.” Carter says. “I’m outgoing and I’m not afraid to do or try anything.” Yeatts said.”
When the time does come when you become who you really are, are you proud of that version of yourself? “Yes because I take integrity very seriously, and I try to make sure to do the right thing most of the time if not all the time.” senior JD Gillie said.
“Yes because I bring myself to good standards and I try to make sure to be a likeable person.” Yeatts says.
“No, because I feel like I can be a better person, but I believe everyone can do the same and improve themselves.” Payne said.
“I am proud of myself because I have grown a lot of trust within me and I try my hardest to do the right thing and make the right decision.” Pruitt said.
Don’t change or fake who you are to fit other people’s standards or expectations. Embrace the raw version of you that hides in the shadows away from the light. Let people see the real you, the you that you fought hard to be. Think about it this way: if everyone was the same, acted the same, dressed the same, or even behaved the same, life would be extremely boring. So let the you that lingers in the silence out. Who you become when the world isn’t looking is something special and sacred. The difference between everyone shouldn’t be hidden but instead endorsed.
