Text Messages. Facebook. IMs. These three form the holy trinity of adolescent correspondence. Ironically, all three have led to major communication problems between teenagers today.
While such modes of technology are certainly helpful, they take away from the more human aspect of actually speaking to one another. Such hypothetical situations have become more and more common…
-Boy gets girl’s number. The girl likes boy, the boy likes girl. But, they do not talk in person at school. He texts her asking what she’s doing this weekend. Nm, u? Nothin. Seriously, take note, this is definitely the path to an eternal relationship.
-Girl likes boy in math class. They are Facebook friends, but in class they sit on opposite ends of the room. She decides to leave him an Honesty Box message. “I think you are really cute”. No response from the guy. TERRIFIC! This is sure to work out really well, too.
-Girl #1 IMs Girl #2, “OMG did you see (insert name here) today? He’s so hot.” Girl #2 replies, “yeah”. OH! But now there’s the dilemma of what kind of “yeah” was that. Was it an ohshe’sinagreementwithme “yeah” or an ithinkyou’reanidiot “yeah” or idonthavetimetotalk “yeah”.
So many interpretations! So little information! What is a person to do under such stress?!
…Which is exactly why PostSecret has thrived. People are becoming less and less capable of saying things directly to each other’s faces; though, that’s not to say there aren’t benefits to anonymously divulging a secret. Every Sunday, Post Secret is updated online with new secrets flowing in from around the world. Just in our own hallway, an art project was established for people to post secrets outside of the Auditorium. Secrets are everywhere.
There is something very comforting about knowing that there are other people out there who share the same sentiments. It’s funny to read a secret that is absurd. It’s empowering to read the optimistic secrets some people hold. More importantly, it leads to a self-discovery. It leads to a better understanding of who you are, whether your secret is that you cut yourself, or you are deeply in love with a stranger, or that you like cheese fries with a burning passion.
Our motto here at the Shrinking Quad is “stand in the center of the quad; your voice will echo”. And thus, we have the creation of a new Post Secret project for LHS:
The Echo Project.
The Shrinking Quad created an Honesty Box on our Facebook page. Using this honesty box, you can now submit your OWN secrets to the Echo Project, which we may then publish here with your permission. (Use the big ol’ H.B. to also write comments, article ideas, you get the drift…).
As said before, communication for teenagers is increasingly impersonal. Perhaps in ways Post Secret only helps this impersonal characteristic, yet in others, it helps to alleviate thoughts on our minds whether mundane or outlandish.
We’ll Start, Here Are Some of Our Own Secrets:
-I am afraid of elderly people.
-I am older, yet I still feel new.
-I am wary that people judge me based on the music I listen to.
-I don’t find movie stars all that attractive.
-I hate cheese.
-My favorite quote is “be the change you wish to see in the world”, yet it’s cliché so I never tell people I like it.
-I still sleep with my teddy bear.
-I sometimes imagine what would happen if I were in a bad car accident.
-I try and see the beauty in everything, but sometimes that fails.
The Echo Project ensures that your secret will absolutely remain anonymous. Secrets can be boring as hell (like some of ours), or be wildly scandalous. We dare you to tell us your secret.
Send secrets to: The Echo Project
