McCandless Project

Torey Rothert

Mrs. Belden

Honors English I

8 November 2014

The Chris McCandless project: experiments outside of the norm

For a project I was designated to spend one day of my life outside of the socially acceptable (normal) routine. I specifically wore a tiara on my head all day, and wore makeup all day. I chose these task due to the fact that no one casually wears tiaras, and I myself never wear makeup.

While I went about my day I got multiple different reactions. Most of my peers questioned if it was my birthday. It was an assumption that I looked nice for a special occasion. A fairly decent amount of people commented on how I look like a princess, for only a princess would wear a tiara and walk with such makeup. Surprisingly however, wearing the tiara gave me a large number of looks from my school mates. Those who I have never spoken to, stranger I could call them, were judging me and my looks. Questioning why I looked that I did. These reactions did not surprise me, yet they still count as a shock on my behalf. The majority of my reactions were positive and confused. What really got me were the negative responses. How could so many people be so quick to judge who I am because I wear a tiara. Most people told me I looked like a princess and some choice characters thought I was an attention seeker wearing all the makeup.

To be honest I felt wonderful during the day of my experiment. It introduced me to new people 

and I literally got to be a princess for the day! Every time I got a positive comment my happiness rose. 

Sadly whenever I heard a snarky comment my confidence shrunk. I wasn’t like them so they didn’t like 

me. That felt the worse about my day. I would say no one is truly free to conform. No matter what there 

will always be a person, comment, or idea questioning your choices. No matter how small this will hurt 

and pressure one into not conforming again. I think it terrible hoe everyone is pressured to be 

stereotypical and live in the social norm, that they never truly know who they are themselves. They 

can’t express themselves or even find out who they are. That is the worst thing about living outside of 

the norm.