User:Simplytori

The Adjective Perfect

Mirrors are there to show the flaws people do not want to see, people want to believe they are as perfect as they conjure themselves to be. Many things in life are there just to trick people into believing things, one of those things are humans. People try to control every aspect of their life, they believe that if they control what happens then they can decide their fate. The author Simone Elkeles has written a book recently, Perfect Chemistry, that portrays a perfect example of characters appealing more to their public image, then to who they really are. “Everyone knows I’m perfect. My life is perfect. My clothes are perfect. Even my family is perfect. And although it’s a complete lie, I’ve worked my butt off to keep up the appearance that I have it all. The truth, if it were to come out, would destroy my entire picture-perfect image” (1). People will protect their public image at the expense of their private life and self-respect.

Around the world people put on a mask everyday, something for every occasion, and they don’t take it off until they are alone and away from the rest of the world. Each mask is a symbol of their life of perfection that they have created and worked so hard to achieve. Every morning I put on my own mask and go to school. I’ve created this image, society, in my head that if I do not live up to, the every other day of work would crumble. I try to live the truth, but I know that I’m not even fooling myself, when I step into the doors of Hinsdale Central, I change whether I am aware of it, and sometimes I do not know. Over the years I have tried to remember who I am, but when you are a sophomore in high school you feel this is as far as your life will go, this is where it all matters. Hinsdale Central Students do the same thing along side of me, on the outside we appear clean and perfect, but on the inside are money problems, abusive parents, stress, and the pressures of the social scene. When someone appears more then they are, they want to set a message or reputation about themselves. North Korea tries to set an example everyday for it’s citizens that they are the best out there, and that it’s the hero that is saving it’s people, while the USA is destroying their chances of growing. The government in North Korea has blocked out the outside world, so that it can control what is going on in their country, if they control it then they can make it what they want. Control is a key part of perfection.

“Actions speak louder then words”, was once said by Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president. When a decision is made, even on the whim, it typically has reasons, so when someone chooses certain things for their public image, they must always expect consequences, in any form. A former House of Representative, Jesse Jackson Jr., chose to overlap his private life and political when he borrowed funds from his own campaign to pay for his expensive lifestyle. Jackson ironically fits the perfect image for self-centered, egoistical, politicians who would rather keep a perfect public image, then face the truth. Richard and Mayumi Heene are the parents of the famous ‘Balloon Boy’, and once upon a time wanted fame and fortune. According to CNN the Heene’s were trying to perform the perfect image of concerned parents about their son being trapped in a balloon saucer that they created, were really trying to set an image of their family that would have gained them money. Perfection is a state of mind that unless addressed can take over, and all sensible decisions are clouded by an image that is on display in one’s head.

When people focus so much on how they appear, they forget who they are. The movie Annie shows how someone can forget who they are and where they come from all by the shiny and expensive things in front of them. When an orphan girl is swept away by a new world, that she has only dreamt about, she wants to absorb as much, as possible before it all ends. Being in this fairytale for such a short time makes her really see who she wants to be. Letting things around you help to define what you want others to see you as is typically what makes people want to live up to certain expectations. Hinsdale Central High School students live a community of money, so when students at that school are dressed differently, then they are not apart the image money is trying to create. Hinsdale is a community based on appearance; when people walk around Hinsdale they are led to believe everything around them is perfect, therefore it changes people’s choices for themselves. Celebrities also are expected or believed to live a fantasy, all the money they want and all the freedom they could ask for. Lindsay Lohan has been corrupted by fame and fortune. Shoplifting, drugs, and alcohol corrupted her soul. Lohan had the money and time to do what people only fantasized about. When she was arrested for the first time she was applauded and respected by a new group of people that she did not want to leave. All she ever wanted was the attention. When celebrities are viewed by a certain crowd, they will typically mold themselves to that image, their version of perfection. The silhouette of perfection is something about where you are and how you want yourself to be viewed.

While some may argue living the other life, their fairytale, is not as simple as it looks, people still want to know how it feels. People will warn others that their life is not what it appears to be. Much like in the television show “Gossip Girl”, as the main character, Dan, watches people in his school living something much like a dream, coming in a designer clothes (even for a uniform) and how easily they spend their money. Over six seasons of “Gossip Girl” you see Dan start to understand what the other life is like. Before even entering the other world, people can start to understand some of the little factors, more money, freedom, and fame, but they do not understand the pressures and lack of commitment from others they receive.

Are we portraying this public image for ourselves or our audience? In the book Brittany is doing this for her sister, to protect her from the evils of the harsh world that she wold never understand.While for some this image is for both, ourselves and our audience. We dress and act a certain way to reassure ourselves of who we are and who we want to be. Sometimes we want to seem flawless to our audience, because we want to protect ourselves from getting hurt. And to us the only way to protect ourselves is just to deny everything that we believe is supposed to be wrong. We would rather live a lie, then truly admit who we are.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/23/colorado.balloon.boy.sentencing/index.html