Some people may have taken offense to Avital Tzubeli’s critical article, “Look Good Feel Good,” published last month. But, personally, I would like to thank her for what she wrote. Avital’s article was a real wake-up call for me that my appearance matters. The article has therefore inspired me to improve the way I look when I come to school.
I actually had been feeling quite insecure for some time now about my regularly disheveled appearance, wondering if people judged me, thinking that I had poor grooming habits. So every couple of weeks or so, I would take the extra time in the morning to style my hair, apply make-up, and dress nicely as a way of showing classmates that I did have some self-awareness. However, I simply could not be bothered to make the same effort every day. Though I occasionally received a compliment or two on such ‘put-together’ days, I felt like the effort never really paid off. Was anyone actually paying attention to what I looked like on a daily basis? Maybe people noticed when I looked “nice,” but did anyone really notice when I didn’t? I convinced myself that people at school don’t really think about others’ appearances, especially when we are all in the same boat, going to sleep at 3 am and really in need of those ten extra minutes of sleep in the morning. Some day, future employers would care, and when that day came, I would do a better job grooming myself. But right now, in cozy Stern, I just didn’t feel like it.
When I read Avital’s article, I felt like she was talking directly to me. Maybe not quite as bad as the awful Gap-tee she describes, but I regularly wear the bun I slept in to class and lazily don the sweatshirt that was part of my high school gym uniform. Though I convinced myself otherwise, she clearly noticed and was bothered. Good to know. Now I have more motivation to put in effort in the morning and look a little nicer because I know people do actually care. I’ll feel more comfortable with myself, too.
And you know what? The next day when I straightened my hair and put on some make-up, I received three compliments in a row! I guess people really are paying attention. Thank you, Avital, for motivating me to dress more appropriately in the future. I hope I can keep it up. Shalom!