From Rosie the Riveter and Stevie Nicks to Green Day, who inspires our Teen Takes teens
"Don't try to lessen yourself for the world; let the world catch up to you," sensational music icon Beyoncé (aka Queen B), an artist who has resonated with millions of people, has stated. Her fans embody her messages of self-love, confidence, and motivation as they intertwine it into their own lives.
The black hole of media and societal standards is hard to escape, yet influencers can be truly inspirational when channeled in a positive light.
My primary inspiration comes from artists, Stevie Nicks and Freddie Mercury, I’ve taken their vibes and fashion and have worked to construe such into my own life while also adding some of my own pizzazz along the way.
Through such fashion ranging from platform shoes to vibrantly colored jackets, I’ve been able to secure a stronger sense of self and willingness to live my life unapologetically.
When translated in a healthy way the influence of public figures is crucially impactful to a person’s life and becoming their true, authentic self.
Before the concept of rectangular hand sized devices were even brought to fruition, public heads and movements were prevalent. During the height of WW2, Rosie the Riveter was a key contributor in women empowerment as they found themselves flourishing in jobs previously designated to men, which opened the narrative that they were capable of much more than just their limitations.
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Throughout the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr. set on a voyage for racial justice and equality, hand in hand with the Civil Rights Movement. He set the stage for black voices to feel empowered, worthy, and loved.
Along similar timelines, Marsha P. Johnson, the acclaimed Black drag queen and activist, was a prevailing figure during the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Her bravery and fierceness as she triumphed for LGBTQ+ acknowledgment and rights echoed throughout the nation and pushed advocates to keep working towards liberation.
In the world of athletics, Simone Biles spoke out about her battle with mental health after the 2020 Summer Olympics, breaking down the stigmatization of it. Despite the risks of being deemed “weak” or “making excuses,” Biles anchored a new conversation of change to young athletes that there is such a realness in pressure and addressing, educating, and growing from it is essential.
Roman Craig, a junior at Souderton Area High School and member of Teen Takes, holds a major admiration towards the encapsulation of the '90s and alternative communities. Especially Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of the band Green Day, who they discovered in middle school as they were immediately attracted to their eccentric attitude. Craig finds that the band's energy on stage and its authenticity makes it hold a commendable influence.
Green Day opened the doors to the punk rock scene and cultivated a new audience of inspiration. Even in times of darkness and confusion, Green Day was an outlet for Craig to triumph against adversity and fight against toxic forces. Their influence has allowed for Craig and an abundance of others to stand up for themselves, take every opportunity that comes their way, and not let the negative outfielders push them down.
Another fellow Teen Takes writer, Jason Hampton, a senior at Lenape High School, resonates with Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist whose YouTube videos have allowed for Hampton to maintain a hearty outlook on life and further engineer his passion of becoming a psychologist. Peterson’s ability to associate his intelligence with his opinions and remain fluent in discussing the current state of society is a quality that Hampton believes is leaving a productive influence on the world.
Bouncing off the social suaveness of Peterson, Hampton hopes to in his own life become a more well-thought out and well-spoken public speaker.
From international popstars to groundbreaking entrepreneurs, the world is full of monumental figures. Influencers set sail by positively affecting individuals’ ability to embody who they are and the change they want to pioneer.
An influencer could be anyone who makes the world a better place: family, mail carriers, health care providers, teachers. Why, in fact, you may even just be one yourself.
Be the influence you want to see in the world.
Brooke Dougherty is a junior at Central Bucks East High School. Her motto in life is to keep smiling and stay positive, and she wants to share that message with Teen Takes readers.