Don’t get me wrong, I think I’m a pretty cool kid. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t popular or, at the least, well liked.

But I always pride myself on accepting that I’m not the center of the universe. However, many people of my generation are unable to understand this undeniable fact (in fact the universe has no definitive center).

I’m talking about the preconceived notion that my generation is “too cool” to do anything. Events such as pep rallies, school dances and athletics that were once vaunted and obsessed over are now cast aside as “stupid” or replied to with an eye roll and a condescending “Why would I want to go to something like that?”

Statements like this and the attitude behind them are why kids our age are so often looked down upon.

The stereotype of our generation being glued to their phones and expecting the world to adjust to their needs is unfortunately too much of a reality.

We try our best not to look stupid or make fools of ourselves. There’s just one problem with that: that’s what we’re supposed to do! We’re teenagers! Stupid decisions and having fun are our forte.

There was a time not that long ago that the Snowball, basketball ‘Dawg Pounds” and Friday night football games were THE place to be. It was fun to stick out and be different with all your peers there to watch you be ridiculous. Now we’re lucky if a dozen people show up to watch a sporting event.

So believe me when I say that no one will care that you’re having a good time.  And if they do, so what? As long as you’re being yourself and socializing instead of staring at a black mirror all day, maybe you won’t look so miserable all the time.

I’ll be honest, I use my phone too much and I often think of myself too highly. But that doesn’t make my behavior okay. I do my best to not care what other people think and respect authority all the same. I try to say “hello” or “good morning” just to brighten someone’s day. How many of us try and make someone smile every day? Not enough.

That’s where the issue lies. This generation cares too much about what other people think and less about their fellow man. And the people they listen to and deify, they don’t even know. They follow musicians and athletes like gods and treat their parents like children. Respect has become a lost art with little signs of recovering.

There’s nothing wrong with looking up to someone, but aspiring to be exactly like them is a harmful practice that discourages individuality. We’ve become a walking cavalcade of media obsessed drones that only care about what will make them look cool today, myself included.

I implore everyone to come to Snowball this Saturday and to come to as many basketball games, swim meets, wrestling matches or other student activities as you can. It’s a nice thing to do and shows you think about something more than your own self image.

I’m laying down a challenge to not just Tyrone High, but to kids everywhere to not be afraid of what others think. Get off your phones, get involved in your community and get over yourself.  To be honest, you’re not that important anyway.