Open Letter To My Students

Dear Students,

I am conflicted. Do I feed into the hype of the whole VMA Awards show by writing about it? Do I just ignore the images of a young person clearly in need of attention?  Can I even begin to process what on earth inspired a creative mind to express herself in such vulgar and public ways?

Perhaps this is something all of you already know on some level, but if it saves even one of my dear students from shame, humiliation, or regret, I feel it is worth writing.

To my young ladies:
You don't need the type of attention that lewdness and tasteless acts will give you. You really don't. I understand that society's definition of beauty and allure are crammed down our throats and minds every day. Make a conscious decision to rise above that. I understand that suggestive pictures and language can create a flood of attention. Make a sincere effort to avoid both as it is not constructive, positive attention. I understand that Hollywood-type behavior leads to a kind of brainwashing in which the truly bizarre can appear normal. Make sure you are not amongst the delusional.

To my young men:
You are the key to helping reign in some of this repugnant and distasteful behavior. Of course, it is nice to compliment the ladies in your lives, but I challenge you this- get beyond the physical compliments. Wholeheartedly admiring someone's talents, character, magnetism, and individuality is much more profound than admiring someone's eyes. I ask that you also think of your mothers, sisters, and daughters growing up in a world consumed by racy, provocative images of women.  Help them navigate through this by showing your own preference for some modesty and self-pride.  Nothing is more attractive than a confident, intelligent, positive person- regardless of her waist size or hair color.

I wish I were more shocked than I am about the choices that were made in the leading up to the VMA circus. I mean, there were surely dress-rehearsals, costume-designers, parents, network producers, etc. that all knew exactly what was going to happen. Why didn't someone approach the whole situation and put a screeching halt to it?  This is not a case of one young lady going wild- it is a reflection of a society gone wild with misogyny and "blurred lines" of what is acceptable.

My point, my students, is this: you are better than that. Every time you change your profile picture, post to Instagram, show a fun few seconds on Vine, or opine on Twitter, stop and think. I ask that you really look into yourself and honestly answer the question "Is this what I want the world to think of me?" Once you have put an image, opinion, or video on-line, it becomes part of your digital footprint. Forever.

Maybe the right thing to do is to just say nothing.  I just can't sit quietly when out of something disturbing I can possibly find a teachable moment.  It's what I do; I am forever your teacher.

Abrazos and be careful out there,

Sra. Lennon