What's Your Identity Part II

Style is an identity. As our society and culture has grown, it has allowed women to identify with themselves as individuals, when that was not possible in times such as the 1960’s. What a woman wears to school now is a definition of who they are, no matter if they’re wearing a band t-shirt, pajamas, combat boots, a cheerleading uniform, or a tie-dye shirt with a peace symbol.

Analyzing the Skip Jack I realized that a woman's attire was very repetitive and bland no matter the situation. In the yearbook there is a young woman photographed in a skirt and blouse and on the next page the same thing, and the next, and the next, until I reached the very last page. Every young woman looked the same. I began researching the styles and etiquette of the 1960's and discovered that women were not allowed pants or shorts in school, and jeans, never. Individuality in women was not promoted or celebrated.

The equality of women to men and their rights began to flourish from 1960’s to about the 1980's and the boundaries that held women faded. Today, you would be able to instantly know about a woman from a glance at the style they're portraying. Who their friends are, what club they belong to, what club they don’t belong to, and one or more of the interests. Take the movie Mean Girls for example, the opening sequence is introducing all of the cliques and they all have a distinct style. The movie is fiction but the styling is all fact for girls in school. A tiny detail such as having the right to choose an outfit to wear to school can be the start of defining your character, a way to express who you are without repercussions, a life that is yours.

Now women are not only able to wear pajamas to class if they wish but they are originals not copies. Women have a choice to be themselves. Before equality of rights and even sometime after, having a life not dictated by norms was a dream. (word count 349)

What's Your Identity?

Style is an identity. As our society and culture has grown, so has women's ability to identify with themselves as individuals. What a woman wears now to school depicts the type of person they are, an athlete, fashionista, punk, hippie, or completely unpredictable. The cultural norm in the 1960's was a woman was what society told her to be.

Analyzing the Skip Jack I realized that from a woman's hair to her skirt was very repetitive and bland no matter the situation. For example, there is a young woman photographed in a dress while standing in the snow and there is a girl in a similar length and styled dress in the summer. Every young woman looks the same. I began researching the styles and etiquette of the 1960's and discovered that women were not allowed pants or shorts in school, and jeans, never. Individuality in women was not promoted or celebrated. It was frowned upon to step outside of any boundary set for a woman.

The equality of women to men and their rights began to flourish from 1960 to about the 1980's and the boundaries that held women faded. In the Skip Jack taking a look at a person and being able to tell their story was not a possibility. Today, you would be able to instantly know about a woman from a glance at the style they're portraying. Hebidge wrote an entire book on style and its definition within culture today. That's the beauty of the evolution of culture, forever changing and growing. A tiny detail such as having the right to choose an outfit to wear to school can be the start of defining yourself with a bright unique future, a career path you choose, a way to express who you are without repercussions, a life that's yours.

Now women are not only able to attend college with men and wear pajamas to class if they wish but they are individuals not copies. Women have a choice to be themselves. Before equality of rights and even sometime after, having a life not dictated my norms was a dream. (word count 350)

Life After High School

High school is all about how many parties you attend, the boyfriend you have or wish to have, and when the next pep rally is. Life after high school is not on the top of one’s priority list and it certainly wasn’t on mine, until the day came to apply for college.

            As I am sitting in my living room watching re-runs of Friends I casually begin to apply for various colleges. I run into a short personal essay about the person I am, what it is I stand for, and the person I want to be remembered for. I realize I know the answer to all of these questions and I am neither the person I want to be nor will I be remembered for anything concrete, unless I change what it is I stand for, the “mean girl” with not a glimpse of life after high school. I found myself with no time for family or responsibilities and how I treated others was unacceptable. That college essay question was a reality check, one that changed my life ever since. I slowly drifted away from my “friends” and the parties that once surrounded my life. What I found was even better. Rekindled friendships with what are now my 7 closest friends. All who are goal oriented, strong, independent young women with bright futures, and a head on their shoulders. Most importantly, they are good people. The kind of people who unknowingly make you the best person you can be. (word count 250)

The “IT” Crowd

High School is all about who rules the school and is highest on the food chain of popularity. How many people you walk on, how many rules you break, and how many morals you chose to lose is the least of your worries. But is that what High school should be about? I thought so.

I was in the crowd that people either desired to be a part of, or who despised you because they saw you for what you really were, shallow and conceited. After many years of popularity and a thriving social life I discovered I loathed who I was, the “mean girl” in me had been thriving. In high school it seems like do or die, but as college applications approached and life after high school was a reality, I found myself with no time for family or responsibilities, my priorities were well out of line. How my friends treated others was well out of line too. By senior year the cruelty and pettiness that my friends engaged in had taken its toll on me. I slowly drifted away from my friends and the parties that once surrounded my life. What I found was even better. Rekindled friendships with what are now my 7 closest friends. All who are goal oriented, strong, independent young women with bright futures, and a head on their shoulders. Most importantly, they are good people. The kind of people who unknowingly make you the best person you can be. (word count- 247)

My name is Kelsi Morris and I was raised in Maryland with an Oklahoma mentality. My entire family is from Oklahoma, however, my parents, brother, and sister left and never moved back although, that was the plan. I credit much of who I am today to my parents ability to culture my brother, sister, and I to everything that is in this world instead of a town that many people find hard to escape. I love Oklahoma and always will but, my heart belongs on the east coast.


I've played soccer competitively since I was 5 and continued on in college at the University of Pittsburgh. I transferred this year as a junior and now play for UMBC Women's Soccer program. My major is communications and I dream big hoping one day to work for an established PR firm in either L.A or New York City.


UMBC Women's Soccer