Dress code has long been a heated debate at Hoban. After years of struggles between sweaters, flannels, and patch pockets, administration has finally won with a cookie cutter, polo-and-khakis-only dress code. However, there is a gray area that perhaps faculty believes we take for granted—shoes.

Yes, only a few options remain for student individualism:  jewelry, hairstyles, and shoes. This last frontier of self-expression, though, is quickly diminishing as well.

The last bastions of expression have been limited over time — from the number of earrings allowed in each ear to restrictions on hairstyles and hair colors. The one restriction that irritates me the the most, however, is that every step I take is dictated by administration.

It started early, freshmen year.  The ability to wear my expensive Ugg™ boots was taken from me that year when the teachers and faculty noticed that they were popular. Because of this, I am forced to wear shoes that aren’t insulated, warm, or waterproof and easily damaged by the winter snow.

Sophomore year, Timberlands™ were all the rage. The construction style boots were just becoming popular at Hoban, when little to our knowledge, the money spent on the expensive boots would again be flushed down the drain.

A pattern was forming. Every time a new trend spread that wasn’t banned by the Hoban dress code, it became banned. What was next? Birkenstocks™? Jordans™? Vans™? Do they just want to take away our happiness?

Flash forward to today, and I have a limited number of shoes that I  can wear. Without a risk of detention, I am able to wear a pair of black flats, tan sandals, or tennis shoes.

So what’s the problem? What else would I need? Individuality and self expression must be the priority, or the student body has a problem.  

I have a lot of personality and, honestly, my yellow Crocs™ with Christmas socks speak wonders of that. Every once in awhile, I’ll feel bold enough to defy the dress code and wear sandals without straps around the heel or a pair of shoes that would actually protect my feet from the brutal slush in the parking lot. In return for wearing shoes that make me feel good about myself, or actually keep my feet warm and dry, I get threats of detentions. Administration should realize the worth of self expression and individuality and give us back our freedom to step toward our future in whichever shoes we choose to wear.