By Madison Houska

Basic. Does it define us? Is it our looks, our clothes, or personality? Is it our friends that we hang out with, or the music we listen to? Being ‘basic’ is just a term. A word. A sound. It means something different to everyone.
To some its a peppy girl walking down the hallway. To others, an annoying girl you want to avoid. Either way, ‘basic, is a classification. A category that we let happen and often time we make jokes about it. For example, wearing leggings, boots,sweaters, and making your hair look better than usual. Starbucks in one hand, phone in the other.
We as a society let that define us. Basic. So putting on a certain outfit defines you. Its not bad, but is that how we categorize ourselves? Some say yes, some no. I say yes, and I can tell you why. In my eyes, you can laugh about it. Your best friend just called you basic. So laugh about it.
If you let it define you, then have fun with it. Make jokes. BE ‘the basic girl’ walking down the hall. Be the one taking a picture with your bestie cause your twinning on accident, or on purpose. Don’t let the a term, a word, a simple sound from someone elses mouth upset you.

If anything, laugh about it. Cause you’re ‘basic’ so what? Tell them thanks, laugh and keep going. Tell your best friend you got called basic. They’ll laugh too. I think being called ‘basic’ is a compliment. It honestly makes my day. I smile and say thanks. Every single time, whether they were being serious or sarcastic, I say thanks anyways.
In my opinion, we need society to judge us. We don’t know it, but its something that we have to have. We want to know what society thinks of us. Its normal. Its a way of judging ourselves. We say we don’t care what others think but deep inside we do care. Sometimes more than we should.
Anyone can put a definition on you. But in the end, you put the true definition on yourself. Nobody else can a tell you who you are, or who to be. They can say what they want, but you have to be the one to look them in the eye and prove them wrong. So what does being “the basic girl” really mean? Does it define us? Nope. Only you can define you. There is no other way to be defined.
Your true identity hides behind your clothes. If your identity lived on the outside, it would be broken. Words hurt, but they don’t define you.