Desires
Have you ever been teased before? Maybe you’ve been given free samples to try that have left you longing for more? Or, owned something for a few days only to have it taken away from you?
That’s how I feel like living in Arcadia – like everything is all a tease.
The individuals that live here are a product of the influence that society forces on them. Here, we live in a relatively affluent community – one where luxuries are commonly mistaken as necessities. My daily stroll through South Lot first semester is just one of the many constant reminders of this idea. Others are obnoxiously prevalent – every other kid is flaunting his or her iPhone, raving over the latest gizmos and gadgets they got for Christmas, and touting brand name clothing. To fit in is to conform – the mindset is like a disease: instead of feeling a want to be like everyone else it is a need to be like everyone else.
Materialism has officially consumed me. I was never one to desire luxury over frugality. Yet somehow, invariably, the inevitable happened. Society changed me.
I remember when I used to incredulously wonder about how some people at school take pride in the fact that they never “wear the same outfit twice.” The statement seemed ridiculous to me – how do you have the money to keep up with that sort of stipulation? However, after transforming from a strictly t-shirts and jeans kind of guy into a GQ inspired guy, I now understood and embrace the statement. As my fashion taste broadens, it is a goal I could see myself pursuing in the future. I remember speaking those words with disgust to my mother as it seemed like a waste to me – that money could be spent on better things! – but before I even realized it I turned into the very kind of person I once despised.
The memories of each car my family has ever owned has permanent dorms in my memory bank. We were used to leasing cars, so our collection has been very diverse throughout the years. When it time for me to get my own car, I was ecstatic! The freedom and responsibility that came with it opened up a whole new avenue of possibilities for my life. I didn’t even care what car I got – the important thing was if it could move. Yet when it came time to shop for my car and I received choices – I pushed hard for luxury over simple, speed over convenience, looks over utility, and brand over brand – all to satisfy my intrinsic materialistic desires. Even though I constantly second guess myself about the decision now, I know that I wouldn’t change things if I had the opportunity to because I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yet, I cringe every time I realize I am driving a nicer car than my friend’s parents, teachers, and adults. What did I do to deserve this? The only thing I did right was be born into a rich family – these adults have been working hard their whole lives and they deserve it much more than me.
Despite the constant dilemmas and changes I’ve underwent, these experiences have left me longing for more – way more. The disease has spread like a cancer, and now, I only want the nicest clothes, the fastest cars, and the latest technology. I want the best money can buy, and not only for myself. The reason I’m able to maintain my current lifestyle falls squarely on the shoulders of my parents, so I want to be able to provide the same opportunities to my own children.
If I can’t provide these items for myself or my children in the future, the first 17 years of my life has been just a tease.
