Let’s flashback to the first day of school: you’re all ready for a new year full of new experiences. You and your mom just went back-to-school shopping and bought several new outfits—specifically one for the first day. Let’s be honest, you think you’re looking great. You walk down the halls of Ardsley High School in your new trends and feel ready to take on the year. It is, until our “Back-to-School’’ assembly where our new principal addresses our dress code regarding the length of female students’ shorts as well as their exposed midriffs. You look down at your cute first day of school outfit that doesn’t seem so cute anymore, considering you fit the poster child of the appearance she is describing. Of course, in the code of conduct Ardsley High School has always had a dress code and this isn’t any surprise to you or your fellow classmates. However, in all your years of attending AHS, you can’t recall it ever being enforced—especially so early into the school year.
You are embarrassed until you realize Ms.Trippodo has a point. We are young adults who should be more conscious about our appearance and how we portray ourselves to the world. Dressing appropriately will get us far in regards to job interviews and college. If we pick up these formal-dressing habits now, they will stick with us in the future.
On the other hand, isn’t how we dress a form of expressing ourselves? If we can’t feel comfortable in our own clothing, can we feel comfortable at school? Also, isn’t the definition of “looking presentable” interchangeable? People may have different perceptions of what dressing formally means. No disrespect to the dress code, but how far will it restrain us from being ourselves?
After realizing there was so much controversy over the subject, student council came up with a problem solving and charitable idea. Once a month they propose to have a “Formal Friday”—which will be optional of course—since it was such a big hit during spirit week. On top of this, these Fridays will be an opportunity to bring in used or old clothing which will be distributed amongst clothing drives throughout Westchester. This may both solve our school’s dress code controversy, but it will also help people in need.
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