Would you carry a bowling ball everywhere you go?
Probably not. It would slow you down, strain your back and make every step harder than it needs to be. Most people would set it down as soon as they got the chance.
Yet at school, students do something similar. They carry heavy backpacks even though lockers are a few feet away. Plenty are available, but there is one problem: Almost no one uses one.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that, from 2019 to 2021, there was an estimated annual average of 1,200 backpack-related injuries in children under 19 years of age treated in emergency rooms.
The leading causes of backpack injuries include carrying overweight backpacks and improper use. To help minimize the risk of musculoskeletal problems and pain, the American Occupational Therapy Association suggests that students should not carry backpacks weighing more than 10-15 percent of their body weight.
Many potential backpack-related injuries could be prevented if students choose to use lockers, but because few do, others follow suit. While limited locker use may seem like a trivial example, conformity has consequences.
When individuals change their behavior, beliefs and attitudes to match those of a group or society, they can compromise their wellbeing. Not having a locker to store a coat, students would rather brace freezing temperatures than go against conformity.
Conformity is written all over our clothes, social media, humor and hobbies. Would students continue to consume hundreds of milligrams of caffeine each day, despite the health risks, if their favorite influencer was not doing the same? When individuals conform to trends, they are no longer judging what is best for them.
High school should be a place where students learn to think for themselves. That starts with small, thoughtful choices. Instead of picking classes that your friends are taking, choose ones that match your personal interests. Before adding that shirt to your online shopping cart, consider if you will wear it once the trend dies down. The less we adopt the lifestyles of others, the more control we assert over our own lives.
While we like to believe that we make our own decisions when surrounded by others, conformity clouds perception. Conformity is powerful. Most of the time people take the easier route, doing what others do without questioning if it makes sense to them. It feels safe. It keeps us from standing out. But safety and sameness can come with a cost.
Students cannot afford to be weighed down by what the crowd decides. Their health and independence depend on it. They should be confident and act in their best interest, even if it looks unusual or challenges the status quo.
Set the bowling ball down and lock away the need to conform.