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The ‘Like’ Factor

“We all wear masks…metaphorically speaking.” – The Mask Students share their experiences with using social “masks” to hide their true selves.
Alea Flores, Reporter
November 13, 2024

In our current society, fitting in can be one of the most challenging things. One might change to feel fulfilled by fitting into society. Here are some takes our students have on fitting in and their personal experiences with it.

Junior Lauren Sainz has battled the “like” factor in high school by overcoming her feelings of self-consciousness and the need for others’ approval.

“In the past, I would see other people fit in with groups, and I wanted to fit in too,” Sainz said. “When I was just in the back, I would get so conscious that I was being forgotten. Pretending to be someone I wasn’t was so upsetting because I would not get to express who I truly was. I was scared people would not understand me.”

Junior Israel Calzada shared his experience with being pressured to show a specific image.

“I had to show a specific image before I could show my true self because I didn’t know how everybody else would react,” Calzada said. “My true self is just like a little boy on a unicorn with fairies and bunnies running around, but my image is a boy with big muscles who goes to the gym 24/7.”

Sophomore Aiden Davis believes that wearing a social “mask” is dangerous and has potential consequences.

“My advice to others would be to just not act like somebody else because then you are hiding 24/7, and I don’t think you want to live that miserable life.” Davis said. “At the end of the day, if you do not fit in, it’s okay because there will be your group somewhere in this world. Be yourself, because you are the only you, and you are the only person who thinks the way you think, and acts the way you act. You do bring something to society, and that’s why you should stay yourself.”

Intervention Counselor Tami VanMeter is someone who has interacted with many teens struggling with the same problem, expressing what happens on the inside/mentally. 

“The underlying reasons could be things that have not even truly been discovered about themselves yet, and they perceive others’ judgment, which may not even be true,” VanMeter said “Since teens are so self-aware, and self-involved, they think everything is about them. Unfortunately, the potential consequence is for them to never really discover their true, genuine selves. We can be chameleons and get along with every group of people. We see that as a positive, but when we try starting to research who we are within ourselves, we cannot because we have not been ourselves for so long, by wearing that mask.”

Teenagers are going through such impactful life events and they continuously search for answers about their identity.

“High schoolers should ask themselves, what is their genuine self,” VanMeter said. “Are you living this dual life where you would never meet your other version in person? Is it all pretend? As long as you have not dissociated so far that you do not have a grasp on who you are, there is always hope.”

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About the Contributor
Alea Flores
Alea Flores, Reporter
Junior and reporter Alea Flores, has entered her first year in “The Rosette” Newspaper because a little fly *cough cough* Abdul would not stop buzzing in her ear to join. Although she seemed uninterested at first, the consistent buzzing won her over. Now, Flores loves newspaper and the people in it! Even though Flores can be a little mean with her sarcasm, she means it with “love”, so she says. Currently Flores loves to read and plans on extending that love to writing as well. Flores also is on a never-ending journey on becoming closer with God (her only father figure..) MOVING ON, Flores has made many friends along the way and will continue to become closer with them. Flores is always open to new friends so dont be afraid to talk to her!! she doesn't bite! (hard..) ANYWAY she can't wait for another year!  (Apparently she's also on the run from the police because she's an immigrant?!)   
  Is there a Doctor in the house?: Flores’ passion for helping kids Reported by: Isaac John   Junior Alea Flores has wanted to become a pediatric nurse ever since she joined high school and realized helping kids was what she was made for. Flores’ love for helping children started when she became involved with her local church's kids ministry. “Since most of my family was involved with church, once I became of age I had to be involved too,” Flores said. “The first thing I joined was the kids ministry.  I started as a mover where I would stay with 3 to 5 year olds. I would take them to each of their classes and help the teachers, which is where I fell in love with my kids.” As she got older, Flores became a Sunday school teacher where she spent more time with her kids and developed a good relationship with them. “I’m an art teacher now, and on Monday’s I give a little story,” Flores said. “It’s not really a story about the Bible, but they have themes of how you should listen to your elders, the trinity, or just small things like that. Then after I'm done I ask the kids questions to see if they understood the story and give them my point of view on it.” Although she has a strong passion for the pediatric medical field as of now. Flores didn’t always have that passion when she was younger. “I actually wanted to be like my mom who is in finance,” Flores said. “That was before I came to highschool and joined the athletic trainers. I really thought learning about the body was cool, like covering up the wounds and doing stuff like that. I always enjoyed helping people so when I joined the athletic trainers I kind of put two and two together and it led me to the medical field.” Now that she is in her later years of high school, the reality of seeing so many kids sick in the hospital came to her. “I would like to go into pediatric nursing but I’m still not positive if that’s what I want to do,” Flores said. “I  thought about that because people have brought up the fact that not all kids make it sometimes, but I feel like it’s God’s will. My grandma told me about this movie where there was this kid who was sick and his family was praying for him, but at the end of the movie he still passed away. While the people in the movie wondered why he still passed away, I realized that it was just God’s plan, and sometimes that’s how it's going to be.” Although Flores is only still in high school, she knows that she wants to help kids, so whatever path she goes to she knows she will always help children. “Once I become a nurse, knowing me, I would still want to improve so maybe that might lead to me becoming a doctor or even a physical therapist moving throughout the field,” Flores said. “If I know that I'm comfortable in a place I would not wanna be there any more because I’m not learning anything.”