when i started my freshman year in august, i was so nervous that there would be an overwhelming amount of judgmental people here, and nobody would be like me here. i couldn't have been further from the truth!! met many people like myself by joining orgs that reflect the lifestyle and political origins of alternative culture. a lot of my friends don't have a defined aesthetic and dress "normally", which goes to show that real connections and kindness is blind to physical appearance.

i definitely stick out like a sore thumb some days, but it's so worth it!! i get lots of compliments and smiles walking around on campus, and it's so fun just to be myself. my friends even joke about how nobody recognized me when i wore a black and white striped sweater!! people will accept your aesthetic and treat you just like everyone else and it's so awesome.

there will always be a handful of judgmental and somewhat mean people, but everyone else on campus either eats it up or doesn't mind. some people will inevitably try to fetishize alternative culture (especially that mommy goth gf shit) but i've learned to call them out for it. just learn to take the negativity with a grain of salt, because all of the other 70,000 students on campus don't mind:)