As an individual stuck in a foundation known for its propensity to engender social congruence, college has opened my eyes to many distinct reasons why individuals decide to 'act in a way that they would not normally act. Not being sure of their identity, adolescents are more inclined to conformism than others. At its most basic, academia is rife with conformity through the stereotypes that learners pursue and experiment with in an attempt to discover their identity. There are two types of conformity: the kind that requires you to perform your tasks when your father allows you to, and the less than ideal kind, in which you blindly follow the ideas and rules of a clique or group. a group, without questioning the negative effects this has. about yourself and the evolution of public opinion. Conformity is essential as people strive to gain a sense of strength and acceptance in their lives. Because of this need, “we therefore learn to conform to the standards of other individuals. Additionally, the more we see others behaving in a certain way or making certain decisions, the more we feel compelled to do the same.” Despite the freedoms we are supposed to enjoy in American society, most adolescents struggle to establish their own identity. “Conformity is the jailer of liberty and the enemy of growth,” said John F. Kennedy. When we conform to what our acquaintances, family or public opinion demands of us, we lose the ability to become our own person. Conformity, on the other hand, is about more than just the young girl wearing UGG boots and an Abercrombie hoodie to fit in. It's about more than just listening to top 40 radio stations and watching American Idol to have something to add to the discussion. that your colleagues have over a stale coffee... in the middle of a paper...... We all intrinsically fear dismissal. No one wants to be socially rejected. Because of this fear, we are often too eager to conform to be accepted. However, some people have the strength to overcome the pressure of conformity. These individuals don't have to be punk rock kids who dye their hair purple and listen to hardcore rock music. Instead, they have the strength to be who they truly are and cannot change just because someone says they are different and strange. Being different isn't weird; being different means you have the strength to face conformity, reject it and walk away.