By: Chhaya Néné (University of Miami)
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Booty booty booty rockin’ everywhere… not quite.
College is a time and place to define who you are. You make your own choices and create your own image. How do you know if you made the right decisions and have the right look? Do you find the right choice in an Ed Hardy catalog? Is it when guys/girls (whichever you are into) chase you? Isn’t there supposed to be a “How to be Classy 101?” A lot of girls/guys come to college and don’t know how they should act or who they should be so they buy into the, “If I dress more provocatively then guys/girls will like me and I will get attention” attitude. This is true. But is that the RIGHT kind of attention and is that the way you want to be liked?
Here are the top three things to consider when you want to ace How to be Classy 101:
1. Respect yourself
What you think of yourself, shows in everything you do. It decides how others treat you. It’s about the way you carry or present yourself. Are you constantly seeking the approval of others? Do you pour on the make-up or wear loud flashy clothes?
Do you go to parties because it’s what everyone else is doing? Do you take seductive pictures of yourself and post it to your Facebook? Are you constantly worried about what other people think? Well, don’t. You are the most important person in your life. Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. Show the world how to treat you by example.
2. Package it right
Never judge a book by its cover, right? Not!!! Ask the Sales Department of Barnes & Noble which books sell the most and you’ll get a very different perspective on the importance of the cover. You’ve seen it before at clubs, at school, at the gym, and just about everywhere you go, there is that girl whose cleavage is spilling out of her shirt, or her butt is on display under a pair of extra small daisy dukes, or her navel is greeting the world…
Clothing has a lot to do with the way we represent ourselves. Ladies, if you choose to wear clothing that is extremely skimpy then you are asking for a guy to think of you as a potential hook-up and nothing more.
People (guys and girls) are drawn by a little mystery. Sexy doesn’t mean leaving nothing to the imagination!! Even classics are more appealing in hardback than in paperback or with a torn cover.
Remember, you choose your clothing on a daily basis; you make the choice as to how you want to be represented.
3. Respect Others
Do you consider other people’s feelings before you make decisions? Do you handle your relationship with your friends and romantic interests with care? Be true to your relationships. If you don’t want drama in your life, then don’t cause drama for others. Use the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
You are well on your way to a straight ‘A’ in “How to be Classy 101.” However, you still have a lot of leeway in how you choose to define yourself. Enjoy!
