Schools Out...

Today, I wore my school uniform for the last time. About bloody time too. Wearing a uniform not only classifies you as a more-or-less faceless element, just another student in the old exam factory, it also classifies you as a school pupil to boot. More to the point, it seems to carry with it the idea that all those wearing it are just kids, which is particularly hateful if you aren't one. You become just another teenager; forget being treated as an adult, if you wear the uniform, you seem to be automatically stuck with all the prejudices held against your age group. Sure, when I'm out of the uniform I generally have that to put up with too, but at least then it is by choice; any aesthetic one adopts necessarily brings preconceptions with it, but at least by choosing the aesthetic you can choose the preconceptions. Sure, people say "oh, but you look so smart and grownup" and suchlike excreta, but that's the point. In school uniform, you're just a kid trying to be grown up at the very best. And if I'm going to put up with being looked down on as a teenager (by some, I might add, many people are of course far fairer in their outlook) I may as well have the damned freedom to look like one.
I'm aware of all the arguments in favour of uniforms, and broadly speaking I can see their value, and would agree that they are, at least, a necessary evil. But that does not mean that i have to enjoy it, thank you so bloody much. So good riddance to the damned thing.
And now, the long dark wait for exam results... ah, fuck it, I'm going to enjoy the summer and forget about that.