The bland nature of current mainstream culture and fashion is plaguing SLOHS. Graphic courtesy of freshmen Lucas Reinhart.

  At San Luis Obispo High School, individuality feels like it is fading faster by the day, students often make choices that reflect what is most accepted rather than what feels most authentic. The result is a culture where it is easier to conform than to risk standing out.

  “Yeah, individuality is dying at SLOHS because everyone wears the same brands and the same clothes to try to fit in and not to stand out,” said freshman Alice Amos.

  The pressure to blend in doesn’t stop with clothes. People follow the same trends, listen to the same music, and even post the same types of photos online. Originality is cool in theory, but not when you are actually at school. 

  “Individuality is dying because people are just following trends,” said freshman Mason Saueressig.

  This doesn’t imply individuality is completely gone. It just seems obstructed. Many students say they show more of their true selves outside of school when they are hanging out with friends and do not have to worry about judgment.

  “I think that individuality is dying a little bit. I think it is important for everyone to find themselves and be able to express that. Within the social boundaries people set, that can be hard,” said freshman class officer Simone Alcorn.

  High school is supposed to be the time to figure out who you are. When the safest choice is copying everyone else, it becomes hard to experiment or try something new. Individuality at SLOHS might not be tarnished forever. Unless students take the risk of standing out, it will once again be buried under modern consumerism.