Kelly on Blue and White day
By Isabelle Lounsberry
Kelly Wilson, a senior at Apopka High, seems like a normal student at first glance. An art student hoping to go into fine arts or possibly special effects, there seems to be nothing out of the ordinary. That is until you look at her style, which she defines as, “Goth mixed with prad and new goth.” An average teen with dark clothing, you can assume the people she comes into contact with. She shared some of her experiences involving these people, and with self-expression as a whole.
What inspired you to dress the way you do?
“It’s just the aesthetic I like, I’ve always liked it since I was a small child. Now that I pay for my own stuff I can actually do it.”
What are some misconceptions people have about you?
“That I’m a Satanist.”
Do you often get harassed or called out for the way you dress?
“Oh yeah, all the time. I get a lot of compliments. I think I get more compliments than rude comments, but I do get a lot of rude comments.”
How do you respond?
“It depends. If it’s funny I usually laugh, and if it’s something like, ‘Are you a Satanist?’ I say, ‘Do you wanna find out?’”
Do people act differently around you than they otherwise would?
“I don’t know. My friends don’t, but I don’t know these people outside of when they interact with me, so probably, but I can’t confirm.”
Why do you believe that is?
“People don’t like things that are different. If it’s not in their norm, they’re like, ‘Wow that’s weird, what’s wrong with you?’ so I just think with what they think is normal.”
Is it wrong to judge people by the way they dress?
“Yeah, I think just by the way they dress, you can’t really know what a person is like. I mean, if they look like they’re going to murder you, maybe you should not [approach them], but that’s more facial expression than how they dress.”
Even if the assumptions are accurate?
“Depends. Most of the stereotypes are inaccurate, like the word satanist or school shooters. Most goths are Christian, atheist, or Pagan.”
What are your opinions on self-expression?
“I think people should do whatever they want. I mean, honestly, I don’t care. If you wanted to wear a Spongebob costume all the time, and it makes you happy, do it. You’re gonna die eventually, and you’ll be sad that you didn’t get to do what you wanted.”
Do you believe there is a wrong way to express yourself?
“As long as you aren’t hurting anything, I think it’s fine. As long as you’re not hurting the environment/ people/ animals I think you’re good.”
What is your stance on authority governing the way people dress (such as school, government, etc.)?
“I think it’s pointless. People revolt, they don’t want to listen. A lot of the time school dress code is dumb because they target certain people. I almost got dress coded for being in dress code, while a girl with shorts that barely covered her butt just walked past, and they didn’t say a word.”
Do you think that religious expression should be addressed the same way?
“If you’re not hurting anybody with your religious expression, then who cares. People need to stop with the, ‘You’re wrong and I’m right,’ because nobody knows the answer.”
Is there anything else you think is important?
“Stop judging people over stupid things.”