A lot of people in my generation, no matter race or background, seem to have lost professionalism in certain aspects of jobs. I took it upon myself to separate myself from a stereotype that many of the employers, and older people of America, has with this generation. So, I decided to dress in a professional manner everyday I went to work, because I would never know who I could make an impact on. The change in my attire not only made me feel better and more self confident, but the respect that I earned changed how I did my job. At my workplace, which was the library, before I decided to change, it was near impossible to help anybody, because I was ignored by customers, who would rather talk to the more professional more astutely dressed individual.
At first I wondered why this happened, whether it was that the other worker worked longer or was a better people person. I asked my parents this question, and they told me plainly that dressing like the most successful person at my job would change just how much respect that I was granted. So, at first I went home and changed, after school everyday to go work, but one day I knew I wouldn't have time after school, so I dressed in a shirt and tie to school. When I got to school that day, I noticed that I was treated differently. I don't think it was just the change in how I dressed, but the way I carried myself. The psychological change in myself at first surprised me, but now I feel that it's to my advantage. I not only worked harder at work, but instead of doing the bare minimum of work at school, I started doing a much more thorough job of homework and class work by typing the assignment and various other means of improving my work habits.
The change that I made was definitely for the better, and I think more and more people would benefit from dressing much more appropriately at school, and more professionally for work, because from my experience you not only work better and harder, but it's easier to gain respect, making it more beneficial to the customer that you help on the job, or the student that asks you for help at school. That is why I would recommend sincerely that you think before you decide what clothes you are wearing because first impressions can be crucial to how people view you as a person, before they even get to know you.
