January’s “It’s OK to Be Different” month is celebrated through self expression and the embracement of nonconformity during the most popular time of year to bring about personal change. Due to misrepresentation in the media, it is not uncommon for people to feel self-conscious and insecure when it comes to things that set them apart from others.
January is usually a month when people decide to pick up new hobbies or drop certain habits in order to better themselves. However, the resolutions people make are often made in order to fit a specific look or idea, which in the end, may push them to conform to being like others rather than stand out.
Senior biology major Jesse Martin said, “I think ‘It’s Ok to Be Different’ month is a good idea because people compare themselves to others all the time, but this month takes some of the pressure away so that people can be themselves.”
Being different does not just apply to physical looks, it also includes personality traits, hobbies, interests, clothes, etc. Many people find it hard to accept their differences because of social media and the projection of “normalcy” that is advertised.
The various characteristics that make up each person contribute to each individual’s different appearance to others, making them unique.
Kyra Sikorski, a junior French major, said, “I think [It’s OK to Be Different month] is important because we need to embrace our own values and differences because if we were all the same, life would be boring.”
Many people enjoy surrounding themselves with others who share similar characteristics. However, Sikorski said, “I like people who are different from me because it allows me to experience the world through their perspective.”
While we navigate through life surrounded and heavily influenced by the comparisons to and opinions of others, it is important to find others who support you and give you the space to accept and embody whatever makes you unique.
Martin said, “It’s important to find supportive people but it is also just as important to support those that are supporting you as well.”
Junior conservation biology major Morgan Turner said, “I am different because of my open mindedness and it seems there’s not much of that sometimes.”
After learning about “It’s OK to Be Different” month, Turner shared, “I think the idea is really cool, it lets people know that it’s okay if they are not the same as others or don’t live up to society’s standard of ‘normal.’”
Although society may portray an individual’s differences to others as a negative characteristic, embracing that aspect of one’s life is important.
“People can embrace their differences and uniqueness in everything they do,’’ Turner said. “It shows the real you.”
While the month of January is a month of many firsts for a lot of people. “It’s OK to Be Different” month serves as encouragement for people to accept their differences and embody their inner uniqueness.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you need to change who you are,” Turner said, “it is your life, live it the way you want to.”
Photo by Cooper Beck
