GEMS is supposed to be a place for learning and growing, but for half of the students at GEMS, it can also feel like a place where every move they make is being judged. From the clothes they wear to the way they speak or act, judgment can make our school environment stressful. Not everyone feels this pressure the same way, but for those who do, it can change the way they see themselves and affect their school experience. Feeling judged at school is more than just a thought. It’s an opinion shaped by personal emotions and perspective.
Judgmental behavior at GEMS is becoming more normalized than it should be, especially on social media. People are being called “chopped,” “ugly,” and worse, all because they don’t fit the beauty standards of today’s generation.
(Do you feel like every move you make is being judged?)
“Yes bro, a lot. I’m sorry, I just feel like I need to look a certain way to be accepted.”
(Do you think people being judged is normalized?)
“Of course. It’s a part of middle school, and it’s sad how you have to expect it now. A lot of people are judged on how they look, how they are, and how they act.” – Jacqueline I.
The hardest part at GEMS, or at any middle school, can be the way boys and girls treat each other. Sometimes, instead of being supportive friends, we can be rude or hurtful. People make jokes about each other’s appearance without thinking about how it might affect someone, simply because they’re a different gender. Boys might laugh at how girls look or act, while girls might call boys “immature.”
(Do you ever feel like the opposite gender is always judging your every move?)
“Absolutely. Sometimes the boys here can be freaking evil because they think their words don’t have an impact on anybody.” – Jacqueline I.
“Yes, they tell me to brush my hair, and I try really hard to.” – Darren D.
Shouldn’t we be able to walk into school and feel confident every day? Not everyone at GEMS may feel this way, but for those who don’t, school can feel uncomfortable or even scary, like they constantly have to seek acceptance from others just to feel like they belong.
(How do you think students feel when they get judged by other students?)
“I think it affects them negatively because they could get depressed from getting judged or bullied by others.” – Chase T.
In the end, judgment at school isn’t just about words or appearances. It’s about the impact it has on a student’s confidence, mental health, and overall sense of belonging. It’s time we work together to create a more supportive and accepting environment at GEMS.
