Image

Image in
Australian friend’ s diary


25th of September
New school welcome to…

I thought it will look different than I had in Oslo. There I had impression that all people are friendly, nice and helpful. Here I see too many hate in eyes, so many competes between them.
At the first time, when I look at those students, generally I saw groups. My friend from Australia said that in Americans High Schools is normal, they have from 5 to 10 groups in school. I don’t have any idea from what she knows about this but it’s true! I saw group of as they saying “Losers” , group of artists, people interested in sport and for example group of girls whose have power in school.
Exactly this group is for me, I thought.
I was talking with Eve – most popular and known girl at school. I said that I’m Tracy and that is my first day at this school. Yeah, I could expect this – she started laughing with my socks, my jeans and generally with my appearance. All this girls was laughing! It hurt.

26th of September
My objection.

I quarreled with mom. I said that I can’t wear those clothes! They’re so stupid! Of course we always haven’t any money so I will not have new. I decided to go to shop, when I saw prices of new, cool clothes I was shocked. Than I started think about new school and these girls. Suddenly, I instructed that it’s only one way to have these clothes – theft. I put in same shirts to my bag, funny that salesman didn’t even suspected me. Now, I’m happy having new shirts, I can talk with eve.

27th of September.
Eve as friend.

This day for me was so important, that I couldn’t sleep. At the school I was waiting for moment when the eve will be alone, without this all girls – it was. She went out from school and was going along street with her energetic and straight steps. I stopped her saying “nice shirt”, now I know that was stupid but then I couldn’t thinking. She looked at me, my new clothes, appearance and she smiled. It was surprise for me of course. Then she gave her telephone number, and said that I must call her when I’ll have time. I phoned two hours later. Happy, nice and soft voice I heard was telling about school. About what is “on top” and what is “out”, about how I can have respect from others. The most important is your style, but it mustn’t be much different then this which is present in TV or which shows all stars as actors, actresses, singers or models. Style is your way of living in this you have appearance, make up, hair, clothes, language, work, interests, music you listening and relation to things like: school, party, alcohol, drugs, sex, parents and family.
Now I have view about Americans high schools, it isn’t like in Oslo because there, your behavior decided the most about your image.

28th of September.
Night party.

For that day I did the biggest make up I ever had and I wear my second stolen shirt. I’m sad because of that, I don’t want be a thief. I think that it’s to big prize for being on top, but in the other hand, now I can have more friends, meetings, invitations. People are nicer and I see less hateful looks. Image is useful but hard to keep. Today eve invite me to go next Friday to night party, with alcohol and drugs. There will be all popular peoples from school, when I’ll go I’ll have next positive points in eyes those peoples but of course my mom don’t let me to go.

1st of October
Serious decision.

In last days many thinks change, now I have famous friends in new school but day by day they expect more from me. This is prize for respect in this environment. I decided to break my image, it isn’t for me. Really, I’m quiet, calm and I don’t like such living like they. Maybe I will not have the most popular friends, but when you change them for sure you find new, more similar to you. Eve probably suppose my plans, because she fill my fears.
I think that “good image” is relative notion, because for one group of people person with beautiful appearance have good image for different group, person who have interesting hobby.
However, for sure that person should have image because image distinguish as from others.