Self-expression is how an individual chooses to display their particular personality to others around them. It is all around us and is unique to everyone. People can express their thoughts, ideas or feelings in countless ways whether it be through art, fashion or music. Personally, I choose to express myself through jewelry.
One of the most common compliments I get, or the thing people first notice about me, is my jewelry. I am often adorned with a ring or two on each finger, a questionable necklace stack and at least five bracelets per wrist. On top of that, I have my two carabiners with multiple keychains on each that I attach to my belt loops. It is a whole process that I go through every morning, basically customizing myself as if I were a character in a video game.
My jewelry stacks may look questionable because there is not much harmony between the items I am wearing. Two necklaces overlap, the rings are different metals, or it all looks overcrowded. Regardless of what the final look is, I love the process of intentionally picking out each individual piece.
The reason why I love it so much is that it allows the people around me to see my personality. My jewelry speaks for me and shows how bubbly or silly I am. It opens doors for conversation and helps break uncomfortable barriers amongst new people. Although it can be a bit awkward in quiet situations, I love hearing my jewelry as I walk around campus. My jewelry allows me to accessorize, style and present myself in a different way that is uniquely me. I have had multiple occasions where my friends knew I was around solely because of the sounds from my bracelets and keychains.
Other than stylistic purposes, I wear certain items of jewelry because of the sentimental value they hold. Every piece I wear tells a story and rekindles fond memories. For example, I wear the same black ring that I hold dear to my heart, every day because it comes from a person who is very special to me. When I do not have the chance to wear much jewelry like test days or when I am in a rush, I make sure that I wear this ring. It is a special kind of ring, one that you can fidget with and spin and even has “I Love You” carved onto the inside. The texture and every spin of the ring creates a sense of comfort from all the memories I have had with it.
It is always interesting when people ask where I get my rings or bracelets from. I can never give them a straight answer because the majority of what I decorate myself with was either gifted to me by my mother or passed down to me from my sister. Each piece is like a little part of my life, so when someone asks about them, I get to tell a story.
Just recently, my father went on a trip to Pakistan and returned with three full bags of jewelry that he hand-picked specifically for me. My father, like many other South Asian dads, is not the greatest at gift giving. But the fact that my love and interest for this maximalist style of jewelry was evident enough for even him to realize, says something. It warmed my heart to see how much effort he put in to buy each piece for me. Now, every time I wear one of the items he brought back for me, I carry a piece of my father’s love. Not only do I carry his love, but I carry my culture and Pakistani heritage with me too.
Jewelry is just another way of representing yourself and who you are without words. This silent method of self-expression is not new. People have been doing it forever with family heirlooms or even simple friendship bracelets. What people wear reflects their identity, where they come from and what they value.
And yes, walking around campus can definitely be embarrassing, especially since I jingle with each movement or step. However, I would much rather be loud and stand out than blend in and not be able to freely express myself. In the end, my jewelry and its jingles are a small, yet impactful part of my identity. They reflect who I am to others without actually saying a word. With this in mind, I encourage everyone to represent themselves however they would truly like without fear of what others think. People will either always be judgmental or too caught up in worrying about themselves, so never worry about something you cannot change.
