At Bel Air High School, seniors are required to take their “senior photos” to be placed in the yearbook. These photos will be remembered forever; years later, students will dust off the books to reminisce. With this in mind, I arrived to my photo session anxious to take the pictures that I, and my peers, would remember me with.

When I sat down, I was covered with an outdated velvet drape, and handed a plastic rose. I held it close to my face, in an awkward position. I couldn’t help but mumble, “This is so tacky. Why do they make us dress and pose like this?”

My photographer immediately agreed, “Senior pictures should change with the times. It’s been the same way for too long.” He continued, “I’m so radical in my thinking, that I believe students should be able to wear what they want. Everyone wearing the same thing encourages conformity, and that’s not what high school should be about.”

Freshman, sophomore, and junior years, students are allowed to choose what they wear. They have the power to decide how they want to present themselves, and be remembered. Suddenly, senior year, that all changes. Every boy has to wear a tux, and every girl has to wear a velvet drape. Some argue this makes the senior class look formal and classic. At this point, I think seniors are mature enough to choose something appropriate, yet unique, to wear for their pictures. I’m proud of my style, like many students are, and I want the power to choose how I’m remembered. Even if I look back and say, “what was I wearing?!” at least the outfit truly reflected who I was.

Also, I have a problem with girls having to hold a rose. Because I’m a female, I have to caress a used, old, plastic flower next to my face? Why don’t boys have to do this? I don’t like being abased into a delicate, feminine pose. I want to be remembered as strong and dignified. Without a tacky plastic rose.

Most of this year’s senior photos have been taken, so no changes can be made. Yet, I would urge underclassmen at Bel Air High School to advocate for freedom of expression in their yearbook pictures.

Did I mention I didn’t like the plastic rose?