I am so tired of being profiled and stereotyped everywhere I go. It doesn’t matter if it’s the way I dress or how I wear my hair; I will constantly receive comments about me, both to my face and behind my back. This should not be an issue I face on a weekly basis. What happened to treating people the way you want to be treated?
The golden rule does not have a single specific origin; people of different beliefs claim different creators, such as the book of Tobias, or even the ancient Egyptians. This shows that this concept has been around and prevalent since before our time and should continue to influence our actions today.
As people get older, no matter what it is, someone will always have something to say. You may have given them no reason to treat you that way but it will still happen. It’s frustrating when people make assumptions based on how they perceive others.
Individuals, especially students, shouldn’t have to be worried or tense while trying to find themselves. High school is a time to experiment; having everything you do put under a microscope does not help.
Time and time again, you try to let it roll off your back, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t hurtful. It’s not fair that others have to be on edge in their own school because of other students. We need change, and we need it now.
The first step is acknowledging the problem’s existence; many sources, such as Aspire Health Partners, state, “When someone is rude, our brains interpret it as a threat. The result is a sudden increase in irritability, stress, and altered decision-making.” In several studies, it was found that being exposed to rude and unkind people can cause changes to an individual’s creativity and cognitive abilities.
One key way we as a whole can bring back the golden rule is through making the choice to have empathy, as well as making our actions intentional. Showing goodwill is not something that should be so far removed from our daily lives. Moving forward, apply the golden rule daily. You can lead the change.
