Your Signature

In today’s world, it can be easy to stand out, whether by wearing a unique style of clothing or sporting a different hairstyle. Social media trends have overshadowed individual expression, leading many to become focused on comments, views, and likes on their posts or stories. In reality, we should focus on discovering and embracing our true selves, much like a personal signature. 

      When we were in third grade, we learned how to write in cursive, which allowed us to create our signatures. The most interesting aspect of a signature is its uniqueness; each person's signature features subtle differences, with some individuals incorporating loops or extending certain letters. Every child aspired to have the most distinctive signature, but how many of us now are content with simply printing our names. When did we lose our sense of individuality?  Was it when we chose to prioritize our phones over face-to-face connections? 

      With the USC Speak Your Mind challenge, we have begun using social media as it was intended: to connect people. Over the past few weeks, thousands have chosen to pour ice water over their heads to demonstrate that not everyone has to conform to the patterns of those around us. Seeing ice water dumped on someone’s head shocks people and grabs their attention, just how mental health may be sudden and overwhelming. The ‘ice bucket challenge’ is meant to spark conversations and create avenues for us to advocate for mental health.  

     Through this challenge, we have been united by social media. Now, I challenge us to continue this momentum. We must keep striving for individuality, wear our hair however we choose, and add those extra loops and lines to our signatures because that is what makes us who we are. Individuality is what unites us all.

-Katie McClain

DV Sentinel