TOW #23: "What High Schoolers Are Actually Wearing"

What High Schoolers Are Actually Wearing is a film project started on YouTube by Lexie Lombard. The project features a variety of teenagers, each installment focusing on a different set of kids in a different location. They are asked various questions revolving around their personal style and creative expression, and the answers received are sweet and endearing, showcasing the varying trends and styles worn by teenagers across America.

This series speaks to me for so many different reasons, one being the diversity showcased in the episodes touches on the aspects of teenage culture that are often whitewashed and glossed over by the media. It makes a strong argument for representation of actual teenagers - not just fictional ones played by thirty-somethings on TV. Every aspect of the series highlights the uniqueness of the subjects featured, whether it's through lively music or silly text animation. The subjects chosen are diverse in fashion, personality, and looks, and highlight their diversity in the interviews.

Real representation of high school students starts with - wait for it - real high school students. This series is taking to the streets to ask teenagers their opinions on fashion, music, and art, but it's also not afraid to get personal and ask questions about friends and family as well as personal style. The series branched off recently into What High Schoolers Are Actually Thinking, which hosts discussions of the events going on in the lives of teenagers as well as heavy questions about politics and the world around them.

This project has inspired me to reach out and represent the real opinions of teenagers and young adults, something the media does not do very often. The experiences and lives of young people are just as important as those of adults, if not more so. We are the future.