ABSTRACT
Students notice you as the adult in the room. Even our appearance can help secondary students navigate these unforgiving years of relentless judgment. I use the power of not wearing labels to silently allow my less fortunate students to feel safe. There is so much pressure to be like everyone else in the secondary years, so seeing a well-liked teacher not brandish the same unattainable brands that the popular kids wear can really make a difference, even if it is never pointed out. I also have adopted the task of wearing the exact same outfit for a month to stand in solidarity with those students who are bullied for their clothing. This is a silent protest against bullying, but one that is very easy to notice.
