In the Media: Progress Leader 24 March 2020
School Captain, Kara McKenzie, 17
Recently the world has seen the huge ripple effect that young people can create to improve locally-based issues to even worldwide problems.
Mentoring people (whether older or younger) in specific tools to navigate the world of social media and perfection is important in 2020.
A main theme for Strathcona this year is to embody the word “authentic”. With the rise in social media being the hub for interaction, first impressions and connection between people, many teenagers, myself included, have lost the perspective to ignore the perfection and superficiality that sweeps across our screens.
It is imperative that people’s relationships with social media become more positive and instead of inhibiting a person’s authenticity and causing them to question their real and genuine self. I aim to show all girls at school, that while we are all faced with perfection in the media, it is an unattainable goal and instead of concealing flaws, we should embrace them.
The opportunity to help people in small locally-based ways is often overlooked, but it should be recognised within communities and schools more. At Strathcona this year, we are working to further foster the development of skills to combat unreal ideals and to celebrate the individual, as well as group authenticity.
I aim to show all girls at school, that while we are all faced with perfection in the media, it is an unattainable goal and instead of concealing flaws, we should embrace them.
