During the hustle and bustle of a typical day on campus, we can’t help but notice our fellow peers that inhabit our university, whether we’re taking a walk to class or just waiting in the lobby for the next class to start.

When we take notice, a side effect is the creation of a perception of whom others are, whether it’s by what they’re wearing, reading, listening to, or even what they’re eating.

Some say that first impressions always matter; yet appearances can be deceiving. Whether we’re right or wrong, these perceptions we create of others evoke feelings of appreciation or resentment. They come into play when we have to confront them in a classroom or if they have the only table with an available seat.

Whatever the case may be; I want you to know that there is no shame in what your personality holds.

The choices you have made to present yourself to your fellow peers are hopefully rationalized and chosen by yourself. As long as it doesn’t inflict harm, it’s a healthy way of expression, like the way a writer writes or an artist paints.

I know I get judged a lot for my typical white T-shirt and jeans look. Just picture Marlon Brando in “A Streetcar Named Desire” for reference. Mostly this is done for comfort. It would be fun to be dressed real slick all of the time, but that’s not rational with a schedule like mine.

My usually constant use of ear buds in my iPod doesn’t mean that I’m a shut-off from others and hate everyone around me. It just means that I like to listen to music to give the day more of a melody.

If you feel that you have to radically change your looks to get noticed, like how Jan Brady once tried to wear a black wig in an episode of “The Brady Bunch,” you should really take a lesson from her. She learned that what made her noticed was her own hair and that she wasn’t as ignored as she thought.

I know referencing an old 70’s sitcom to real life is pushing it, but sometimes fiction and reality reflect each other. While we take the time to judge others for their looks during the day, we may not entirely consider just who that person is outside of our perception, but once you get to know them, the level of understanding that can be achieved will surprise you. This makes them more of your “fellow peers,” rather than “strangers amongst us.”