From a very young age, I’ve always been fascinated by clothing and I have a particular passion for having a closet with great variety. However, I’ve never been the one who enjoys going out and shopping. Most of my clothes shopping is done online because it is fast and convenient. If I am looking for shoes or something more complex, like a suit, then I will go into a store to shop. Growing up, I was taught to look presentable no matter where I went. Whether that was a quick stop to a grocery store, to the library, or to downtown, I always parted my hair to the side and wore clean, freshly ironed clothes. Over the years, as I found my niche in different activities such as basketball, my dressing style changed a bit. I began to dress in a more athletic manner, with basketball shoes and other sporting accessories. However, the cleanliness of the clothes did not change. As I reflect on the way I dress now, I realize that I have transitioned into a more classy dressing style. I carefully choose shoes to match my outfit and tend to wear more button-ups and semi-formal jackets/pants. I don’t usually wear athletic clothing to class anymore because I prefer not to look like I just rolled out of bed. If I am just casually sitting around at home or going to the Rec, however, I will wear sweats and a t-shirt. As far as additional body adornment is concerned, I have two tattoos on my arms (one on each). In my family, tattoos are seen as unnecessary, so it was difficult to convince my parents to let me get one. The first one I got was something I drew myself and it took some strong persuasive language to get my mother to budge. The second tattoo was a little easier for some reason. The main reason my parents don’t like tattoos is because it looks unprofessional and it has no real significance. While I agree with this viewpoint, I think they can be a unique touch to your body and I only like them when they are mostly hidden from the public eye.
I think the way I dress today reflects the type of person that I want to be in the future. I am an ROTC cadet on campus so grooming standards and a clean, professional appearance is something we are continuously reminded of. Therefore, it has become a habit for me to shave almost every day of the week and maintain a short, tapered haircut at all times. As a future officer, I will be required to look and act professional in and out of uniform so I think my dressing style reflects this attitude. I will be adopting an entirely new lifestyle when I commission so it is better that I start early. However, this dressing sense isn’t necessarily something that I have suddenly acquired in the recent years. I have always had a sense of decency when it comes to clothing because of my parents. They have always said that the way a person dresses says a lot about their personality. If someone is wearing clothes that are old and dirty, they will be perceived as ignorant or unconcerned about their personal well-being. However, when someone is wearing clean, ironed clothes, they are perceived as having a good sense of personal hygiene and self-worth. Hygiene has always been significant in my family as well, which is directly conveyed in the way one dresses.
Among the circle of friends which I spend most of my time with, the way people dress closely resembles my own style. I think this is the case because I choose to mingle and socialize with others who have a similar sense of pride in their personal appearance. For example, when I go to class and sit with my friends, I’ve noticed that we always come to class dressed in a way that portrays our willingness to learn. While there are many other students who dress professionally as well, there are far more who show up in attire that is meant more for recreation purposes. In my opinion, this shows a lack of desire to learn. I strongly believe in the saying, “look good, feel good” and it goes a long ways when you are sitting in a classroom trying to learn. The better you feel about yourself, the better you will be prepared to take on tasks and challenges throughout the day. In my peer community, tattoos have become very popular. A lot of people these days get tattoos of all kinds of things, just for the sake of getting a tattoo because “it looks cool”. I think tattoos are something that requires a lot of thought because it will stay with you for a lifetime. I think a lot of people fail to realize this, even with body piercings. That being said, I do not think many people in my peer community care about their bodies anymore. It seems like people dress up and add tattoos/piercings for attention nowadays, which does not portray self-respect.
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