I want you to imagine this: you’re stretched out on a hospital bed being rolled into the operating room for emergency surgery. Just before they prepare to put you under, the nurses introduce you to the specialist who will perform the procedure. What if the specialist is dressed in a clown suit, complete with big squeaky shoes, big red nose, and face paint? How high do you think your survival chances would be after seeing that?
I find it odd that the phrase “Never judge a book by its cover”, which is so deeply rooted in our culture, was taken from a murder mystery novel and not based on a profound proverb. In this day and age, we need to be very selective in how we apply this form of conventional wisdom. We shouldn’t judge anyone, but we need to be aware that we constantly analyze and are sized up by our outer appearance. If you think about it, you will admit that the very books that you pick-up and read, are based on their covers; not in spite of them.
At this point in the article, you’re saying “Cobaris, what does any of this have to do with the article?” Well I’m glad you asked. After less than a month into the school year, I have revisited some of my previous objections to notions of school uniforms in the public school system as well as my former reservations to legislative enforcement of the proper placement of pants to waist.
When we were younger, my brother and I were not allowed to go anywhere without dressing properly for the occasion. It is with the utmost appreciation of our mother, that we can look back and thank her for our successes; both present and future. Is this gratitude due to the way we were taught to dress? Of course it is! The concept is simple; dress for where you’re going. And in its simplicity, was the groundwork laid in how we were to see the world; which began in how we were going to make the world see us.
It saddens me when I look at our young people and wonder about their destinations based on their attire. Our young men look as if they are on their way to the basketball court, and the young ladies dress as if school is “ladies free before 10”. No matter what the profession is, whether it may be law enforcement, prostitution, or pro-athletics, each one can usually easily identified by their appearance. What does the appearance of our young people say about them?
This has been a year where I have watched our youth fail in professional situations because they have not been equipped to survive in various social arenas. It goes so far beyond just having “home training”; we have to teach our young people how to use the tools at their disposal to identify opportunities and excel with the highest of expectations. We are not doing our kids any justice by allowing them to live out of a fantasy world that has parameters that are not much more realistic than those found in a music video.
Boys cannot continue to go everywhere in tank-tops and sagging pants, and think they’re entitled to receive the respect that one would give to a college graduate. Girls cannot keep packaging themselves in shirts with plunging necklines, skin-tight jeans, and shorts that show more thighs than a bucket of fried chicken and honestly believe that people will take interest in their heart or intellect.
Even though the often-used bible verse of 1 Timothy 2:9 calls for women to be modest in their appearance, we can all benefit from self-awareness of the message we send when we enter a room. I can honestly say that I have never heard anyone who missed out on a great opportunity because they carried themselves with dignity.
The most important factor in how our children look on the outside is what message they are sending about what they’re feeling about themselves on the inside. It is important for us to instill worth and confidence in them, as well as model self-respect and determination to succeed for them. Young people will develop their approach to life based on how we approach ours. If we want them to want more, then we must do the same. It’s time to ask our kids where they’re going dressed like that, but we also need to care enough to help them with their answer. You are more important to the youth that you know than you will ever realize. Make the most of your influence!
With this new surge of empowerment that you’re feeling after reading this article, go out there and become who God created you to be. Nothing beats a failure but a try and can’t is a can with too much “t”. To God be the glory!
