STARTING college has brought some unexpected blessings. Before I became a student, I thought everyone had to be the same to get on in life.

But being in a new environment, I’ve realised that people are recognised for being different and I can truly express the way I feel through my own style. Whether you’re a Goth or a hippie, you can just do what ever makes you happy...

Take Joss Stone for example. She’s currently landed the role of Anne of Cleves in the third series of the BBC1 drama, The Tudors. She’s a lady of modern pop culture who I really respect.

Why? Well, because she defies the norms of pop culture with her soulful music and neo-hippie fashions. She has had her critics but hasn’t compromised and, as a result, her fans truly like her for being her.

I sometimes wonder why it’s so difficult for us to be ourselves. I wonder whether would people be happier if I walked down the street naked, because everything I seem to wear seems controversial to others. I wear beads, sweat bands or something on my arms. Usually an array of bright colours and my red braces are always catching the eyes of onlookers.

I don’t need to follow fashion, because I want to make my own.

What gets me is that people insult the way I dress and even the way I act just because I don’t look like them. Where did all the extroverted people go? Controversy has left society and can only be found in certain places – and I don’t think it should be something that should be squashed away into a corner. I mean who doesn’t enjoy causing a stir? Š

I don’t agree that anybody should be told to act a certain way because we all have a mind and our own creativity.

Unlike those who throw criticism, I notice that the people who chose to be different are never out to offend other people. The truth is, they are happy with themselves and don’t need to seek out flaws in other people. So why is it fair that they should silently suffer?

People seem to act in a way that portrays them as cool, in order to just silently pass by and avoid the comments and confrontation of other people.

If one person in a group decided to wear something that was too different, they would be insulted and probably shunned by so-called friends.

Maybe people should take a leaf out of the book of those people classed as ‘alternative’. There’s examples in every decade – remember back to 50s with rock and roll or the 60s, the era of flower power. Then, people expressed themselves. Icons such as Madonna prove how we can evolve and be ourselves whatever the changes in fashion. She’s a brilliant example of how we only have one life and we don’t want to spend it in conformity.

Just this morning I saw a more everyday example of daring to be different. A father and his young daughter doing a ballerina dance in the middle of the road, just for fun. I didn’t point and make fun of them both, I laughed quietly to myself. If only people could stop judging and start laughing.