Being the class clown is awesome! Until it isn’t. Personality becomes based on whether or not you can make people laugh, and it seems like it’s never enough.
Being the class clown is an addictive persona that can have many downsides. Being able to make people laugh is a great way of making friends, and furthering relationships. Although these are good, it gets to a point.
Sometimes you can bring down your closest friends or family just to feel accepted by strangers. Teachers begin to dislike you as a student, and when you aren’t funny, you almost feel like you’re nonexistent or unimportant.
“Class clowns can be disruptive and the source of multiple JUGs in the same period,” said Mr. Kevin Burke.
Everyone knows these types of people, and it could even be yourself. How do these class clowns act outside of the classroom and away from people?
“Freshman year I thought it was cool and funny to disrupt class and not be a good student and disrespect my teachers. Then I reevaluated and thought about the future I wanted for myself and that my teachers needed more respect from me,” said Artode Ndakize ’27.
This can take a huge toll on mental health and how students go about their day. Social media pushes this narrative even further by promoting the idea that attention equals worth. This causes students to perform constantly, both online and in person. Socially making fun of people online is another outlet of this.
“I decided that being a class clown wasn’t benefiting anyone and was holding me back from being my true self,” Ndakize said.
Constantly trying to be the “funny guy” is hard. And for some people it’s their only way to make friends and feel a sense of belonging. On the other hand, when the “class clown” persona isn’t working, self-confidence and happiness can begin to drop. Seeking validation from others is never the best idea, and focusing on self-improvement each day will aid you in becoming a better Bronco.