Dear Dish-It, I Want to Change My Image!

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Dear Dish-It,
Ok, I have been kinda, well, preppy, wearing labels like Abercrombie and all. I just went to my first punk rock concert though, and I want to change, clothes-wise. Like, I'd rather be more punkish - as in, wearing more black and more studded things. But I am afraid my mom and my sister won't like me and will laugh at the idea. I'm afraid of being shot down. What do I do?
goodcharlottefan123

Dear goodcharlottefan123,
There's nothing wrong with wanting to change your image. In fact, it's a pretty big part of being a teen. It's important to try new things and explore new ways of expressing yourself (without putting yourself in harms way, of course). The road to self-discovery isn't always a smooth one though and chances are, not everyone is going to approve of the new you. So, you need to stay focused on the things that make you happy. If wearing some extra studs on your belt makes you happy, then don't let anyone's opinion stop you. It's hard when your family doesn't understand what you are going through, so if your mom and sis start raggin' on you for your new look, just sit down with 'em and explain why you've taken on this new punky image. Hopefully they'll respect your decisions and keep their negativity to themselves. Good luck!

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