Branded

 9 / 16 / 23

Growing up we don't realize that we automatically brand ourselves and others. Through the lens of labels, prejudice, and stereotypes we form a picture in our heads. We do this, but usually, we don't have the facts, or even the means to actually prove why we see a person or thing that way. We simply just happen to make a hypothesis based on what? The brand that person creates, but is it a brand the person chose or is it circumstance that plays the major role? We conform to the brand that we accept and understand because it's simple and easy. 

The circumstance is easy, and we allow it to become our crutch on how we perceive ourselves. We are all born into certain families and homes. The thing is we have the choice to grow, to transform into something great, or to preserve ourselves out of security. The unknown is terrifying, it means people see us from the lens they grew up wearing. Funny enough I have a short story about how one of my closest friends prejudged me, based on how I spoke, and the story I was telling. She judged me, and maybe I did it on purpose. Sometimes it's easier to create a facade of ourselves so we don't allow our true selves to get hurt or damaged by the rejection from others. Later on, that girl who judged me became my friend, only when she got to know me. But, sometimes getting to know someone takes time, maybe it should come with a warning. 

CAUTION: What you see is what you get. 

I guess the real question is do we create facades or do we create our brand?

This past summer I have been rebranding myself, so I look pretty for my resume. It's funny to think that getting a job, is based on one page of work experience, or questions that are just algorithms. How can someone see the true person? They already have a notion in their head, of what they want. But, when you get rejected by employers who are hiring, you simply learn to rechange and reword your resume, just like a chameleon hoping that you have the right flair and word choice for that job description. 

• Brands
• Algorithms
• Circumstance
• Work Experience
• Judgment

How do we expose who we truly are without getting tormented with doubt? 

-Alyssa