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Christian Clemente

Professor Beadle

English 115

26 September, 2017

Isolation

The current earth population is approximately 7 billion and is still continuing to grow,

because of this people are constantly together and are rarely isolated. People are generally never

alone because of the amount of people on this earth, for this reason humans dislike the feeling of

being left out or not belonging within the group or community in which we reside. Although,

there are so many people in the world, there are countless people who feel alone and left out in

their daily lives. A perfect example of this is the new kid. The new kid, a term that is not

commonly used anymore, was used to describe the new student coming into a school. Although

this term is not commonly used anymore, many people still feel this sense of being isolated

within a space which may cause them feel like the new kid. This feeling of not having friends

and not fitting not only in schools but in a community, is something that almost everyone dreads

whenever they enter into a new space. This fear may sometimes escalate and become so out of

hand that kids may even fear their first day at school or to even continue their education at their

new school. Due to being left alone. This thought of isolation becomes a monster that they

cannot face. A monster that some can not handle.

Joining a new school can be an awful experience for both children and adults. The

struggle of being isolated is not welcomed by most. Feeling unwelcomed or not belonging to part

of a group is terrible. Not belonging in a space not only isolates the person, but also stops them

from finding new friends to counteract this problem. The feeling of isolation can affect a person
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not only mentally but physically as well. Being isolated in school can be quite a frightful

experience for children. This is because young children and teenagers are more reliant on their

peers and companions than adults are. Social interactions often shape a child. Having friends

can affect a person's social standing in a school, this is especially important for people attending

school, especially in children and teenagers. Image and reputation play a very key role in a

young child and teenagers life. Becoming the outcast of the group or not fitting in, can cause

serious mental strain on a child, because they feel unwanted and unappreciated. Becoming

isolated and shunned can cause a person to have mental problems such as depression and even

thoughts of suicide. This mental strain can become so bad that it may even become a physical

problem. Bullying is an ongoing problem that occurs for many reasons. A prime target for those

who get bullied are the people who do not fit in the rest. Although not all bullying is physical,

it may sometimes be verbal. This is can be just as bad. Being bullied will cause these kids or

teenagers to feel even more like an outcast and not included. Causing them to be even more

afraid of school and causing them to isolate themselves even further. Being left out can cause a

lot of problems for a person, like making school seem like facing a monster.

Feeling like you do not belong at a new school is something that is felt by some but not

by all. Some people may think that going to a new school is not even a bad experience. Some

might even think that going to a school not knowing anyone or anything about the area will be a

great experience and a fresh start. Although this may be true for some, but not all people can

view going a new school this way. I know this from personal experience. When I started high

school, I went to a school in a completely different area than I grew up in. This meant that I had

to start school without knowing a single person. I remember spending the first two months

walking around lunch eating by myself and not talking to a single person until few months into
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my high school career. My first day of school high school, I was so scared of not making any

new friends and spending all my time alone. The following days and months didn't get any

better, in fact as time went by I started to hate going to school. The fear of not knowing when I

would make my first friend was always on my mind. This fear of the unknown can cause a lot of

problems for people and has throughout time. As Ted Genoways stated in his article Here be

Monsters this fear of the unknown, of that future that lies past the horizon, has been with us

always. Genoways states this because, although there are fears, it is the unknown possibilities

that really are the root or the fear that is what affects people the most. This fear is a monster that

people have to deal with constantly not only in schools.

Although many schools try to come across as being a very inclusive place where

everyone can be included this is something that is very hard to do. The space of school has a few

values and beliefs that are placed upon its students. These values and beliefs are things like

unity, companionship, compassion, and a sense of being a family. An example of this is my new

school which I am currently attending, California State University Northridge. Upon entering

this school I was constantly reminded by signs, professors, and upperclassmen that this campus

is very set on trying to make every student feel welcomed, included, and has a sense of

belonging to the school. This is because they understand that the feeling of isolation felt by

students entering a new school, is indeed a problem that should be avoided at all costs. Because

these feelings of isolation and not belonging weighs down on a person. Schools want their

students to feel welcomed and included into the family that they are trying to create within its

community. Schools acknowledge the monster of isolation that can be felt by incoming students

of their campus. By acknowledging this problem they are actively helping the prevention of it.

CSUN realizes if they allow this type of fear into their school they will only breed more of this
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fear. Just like in the wake of a tragic school massacre in Beslan[in 2004], Russian President

Vladimir Putin increased security Succumbing to their fear, most Russian have chosen to

allow Putin whatever control he desires. (Genoways). The people of Russia allowed the fear of

not feeling safe to control them. Therefore allowing Vladimir Putin to rise into power. In other

words the Russian population gave into their fears, and has resulted resulted in their loss of

liberty. CSUN on the other hand is counteracting the fear of isolation by giving it less power.

Helping the situation by trying to create connections and situations where isolation is not a

possibility. Although the school may be trying its best to counteract the problem, it is still up to

the individuals at school or wherever they may be to help themselves not be isolated. This

problem of being left out can only be solved if both parties, the community and the individuals,

try to help stop and prevent the situation from even occurring.

In conclusion, humans are the type of species that strives to be surrounded by its own

kind. Being isolated is a basic fear that almost everyone can understand. Although not all

people may be afraid of starting fresh in a new school, a majority of people do. Dealing with the

monster of not fitting in, at a new space is something that people will have to eventually get over

with time. With the realization of the problem, both the space and the individuals within the

space can begin to help defuse the problem. Although this idea of being alone may be

monstrous, every monster can be defeated.

Works Cited

Genoways, Ted. Here be Monsters Monsters : A Bedford Spotlight reader, Andrew J.

Hoffman, Macmillan Education, 2016, pp. 130-133