Broken Boots

If you know me, you’ve probably seen me walk around this winter in my fashionable, furry crocs. Personally, I wear these shoes on days I’m feeling lazy, and walk to class generally disregarding the weird looks from people on the path. Although most of the people I meet usually enjoy them, I sometimes receive negative comments. But lately, as the snow has begun to pile up, I’ve been forced to put on a pair of broken, black boots, that failed to survive the winter last year. The boots seem to attract as much attention as my crocs, and friends and strangers alike constantly remind me: “You need new boots” and “You should buy a new pair.” With the comments come pitying looks as I struggle through the never-ending snow that always manages to seep inside my broken boots and freeze my feet.What others fail to realize, however, is the fact that I haven’t asked for money from my parents since the end of fall term to purchase a bus ticket to Logan for winter break, because of the tight financial situation back home. I have reached the point where pitied expressions after glancing at my duct-taped shoes begin to say: “I’m sorry you’re poor.” Around mealtimes in d-hall, it is easy to see that almost every boy wears a dress shirt and tie, which in turn blends them into a large group where specific articles of clothing begin to stand out in the crowd, whether they are boathouses, baseball caps or furry crocs. How a person is viewed within the Exeter community is clearly reflected on how they present themselves, an argument that the current feminist movement might agree with as well. For boys, the fact that our fashion choices mirror that of the people in the highest positions of our national and global society makes it very easy to forget the outliers in the crowd, the poor kids. Although we are seen by many as a rich, white boy school, times have changed to accepting people from a multitude of socio-economic and national backgrounds. I am not advocating for students to wear broken boots, or be brought down to a lower standard, but rather am trying to raise awareness of the financial diversity of Exeter. I believe that the gray tape around the front of my boots should not change other people's perspective of me as a person, nor should matching brand-name pants and belts, for that matter.I do not value tolerance, but rather acceptance and equality. So on the days there are inches of fresh snow, I want others to keep in mind the unseen struggles that quiet people around them deal with: whether it’s a late-night 332 due the next day or the decision to pick between crocs and broken boots.