By: Hannah Shaffer, Opinion Editor

Lots of makeup, hair perfectly straightened and tanning have all consumed the faces and mindsets of so many girls in today’s society. Over and over again, this has been an issue for high school teens who are conquered by the mentality that those things make them feel more beautiful. However, nowadays, it has become more and more of a problem with younger girls.
It’s sad to see that the youth has already seemed to age in many ways. Everything from loads of makeup, even to just the way young girls talk with one another and carry themselves. It’s unfortunate to see that these girls are already convincing themselves that a day without makeup is a day they look “gross.” At the younger ages, in middle school and even below that, it’s supposed to be the awkward stage in life. Young girls should not be fake, and they shouldn’t be worried on a daily basis if their hair looks nice, or if they rubbed in their makeup well enough.
Sometimes one may feel uncomfortable in their own skin, but everyone looks they way they do for a reason. At that age, these girls should be giving themselves time feel more comfortable with who they are, before they start doing things to change their looks. The problem is that many girls will begin to believe that looking like this is part of their identity; they’ll lose sight of who they are and the true beauty they contain.
Some people believe that they are just trying to be like the girls they look up to, whether that be older siblings or even other high school girls. That, however, is an even greater problem and says even worse about today’s young generation. Youth is so greatly influenced by those who are supposed to be the respectable role models, but what happens when those role models become poor influences? Then who else is there to look up to? As a member of this society, it’s important to realize that the actions and words of the older ones, seem to be repeated at such a young age.
At some point, hopefully there will be a change in our youth. It’s not so much a concern with high school girls because at this age, it just means they have self esteem issues. However, youth’s innocence and purity should not be in jeopardy because of those in society who should be role models.