We live in a world where conformity rules over everything. People have become either afraid or apathetic towards sharing and exposing their own ideas and opinions to the public, especially when they know that there are others among them who differ in perspective. Social media has become a mob, moving and thinking as one, rising as one of the most powerful representatives of the common people. However, instead of promoting ideas from individuals, it seems to have gained a mind and perspective of its own.

When people act alone, they only have themselves to find an answer to something, having to rely on themselves to think. In a mob, the way people think changes. They begin to rely on others a little too much for their own good, to the point where they are barely thinking themselves and simply agreeing with somebody else' s opinion because it’s easier to do so.

I sometimes find myself in a situation where I seem to be the only one with a different opinion amongst a crowd, and it always comes down to whether I want to share it and possibly be left alone on one side of an argument, or simply conform to the minds of the mob and become colorless. I think it is safe to assume that we have all been left in the same predicament before, whether it be in a classroom debate, a business meeting, or simply a discussion with a group of friends. As you may have experienced as well, it is difficult to be the one to break away from the mob and come out alone with a different opinion than the rest.

Despite the decision of whether to break away or not, we must never forget how leaders are born: when there are those who choose to step away from the mob and speak, think, and act for themselves. Even if no one would be comfortable to show their true colors if the rest of the crowd is monotone, leaders choose to embrace that divergent attitude and build their own bridges with their own ideas. That is what our future needs, colorful people with innovative minds that refuse to be simply a part of the mob.


<Junha Park North High School 11th Grade>