The Chris McCandless Project

Camden D.

Mrs. Belden

Honors English 1

6 November 2014

The McCandless Project

The Experiment that I chose for The McCandless Project was to wear a completely different style of clothing one day.  On most days, actually everyday, I wear everything basketball.  I wear basketball shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, socks, and even shoes.  This is the style of clothing that my friends know me by and the style that they dress.  I wanted to wear something that would make them raise an eyebrow but not so obvious it was my social experiment, and the best idea to that was how I dressed for running cross country.  I wore just a plain Nike sweatshirt (I don’t own a running sweatshirt), a cross country invitational t-shirt that was bold enough for them to recognize that it was about cross country, running shorts that are a bit slimmer than my regular shorts, short socks (which show a horrendous tan line), and running shoes.  The results that I received were a lot more dramatic than I would've expected.

The shorts socks and running shoes were a big hit.  My friends didn't really notice a huge difference in the shirt and shorts but they made numerous comments about my footwear.   It first started when my brother and I were eating breakfast.  He caught a glimpse of my socks and the tan line and he yelled, “Ew!  Why are you wearing that!  It’s gross”.

I didn't respond.  It made me look like a completely different person.  Then I received another comment when I sat next to my friend in the morning.  In a sarcastic voice he commented, “Wow, nice socks.  I like the tan line”.

Once again I didn't respond.  And not to my surprise I received a plethora of comments about the shoes and socks during the day.  They all said something about my running tan line, my running socks and shoes, and my overall outfit.  I know my friends and I knew when I dressed like I did for cross country, that they would be surprised and confused.

During the experiment I felt kind of embarrassed.  I knew that they would react to my running gear, but not in making hurtful comments.  When I approached my friends to talk to them I was anxious to know what they’d say about my outfit.  My feelings were also kind of hurt.  I didn't expect them to make comments based just on the way I dressed.  When amidst the conversations with my friends, I felt uncomfortable in my skin and was self conscious about how I was seen, something I don’t usually feel.

When my friends and peers reacted the way they did, I was not surprised.   Last summer at the beginning of summer was my first cross country practice.  I showed up in basketball clothing.  They made an uproar about how I wasn't adequately dressed and that I looked weird.  Luckily they accepted a the season went on.  When I tried the reverse of this experiment with my friends I knew it would be a hit.  My friends reacted the same way as the cross country team.  Their reactions didn't surprise me because I had already experienced them before.

I don’t think I am free to conform based on results from the experiment, yet at least not now.  As of now, I think I fit into my friend group and society while wearing my basketball  clothing since they’re used to playing and watching basketball with them.  This experiment has really opened my eyes.  I have seen how people can judge and some embrace.  I know how it feels to go against the societal norm.  This experiment has really opened my eyes and have made me think like Chris.  For the moment, I will not conform and will follow the societal norm, Chris McCandless would be disappointed.