Perhaps it’s about time to take a shower
December 2, 2009 • Lee W. '10
Filed under Opinions
During the Black Plague, no one knew what personal hygiene was. The odor in London could be smelled in Paris, and rats crawled over people in their sleep. It was a prime example of what human hygiene should not be.
And while the conditions at Ursuline have not come to that point (yet), there certainly are areas we could improve.
Yes, this article is going to be about our hygiene.
The fact that we have come to this point, my fellow students, is (A) comical, and (B) embarrassing. We can all agree that one of the best perks of an all-girls school is the de-emphasis on personal appearance. But a de-emphasis on personal hygiene?
The habit of not showering daily seems to have plagued our school. Just the other week, I was walking down the hall trying to cram for a test the next period. Despite my focus, I found myself overhearing some girls discussing their showering habits. “I haven’t showered for five days,” one girl said, and to my astonishment no one said a word. I restrained myself from telling the girl to go get in a shower, but I decided to leave them to their own cleaning habits.
Being clean is not only a common courtesy to those around you, but it also helps to keep you healthy. It is proven that those who shower and generally keep their bodies clean are healthier than those who do not shower often.
Girls will come up with many excuses for not showering, changing, or brushing: “I didn’t work out yesterday, so I don’t need to shower,” or “I’m just too lazy,” or, my personal favorite, “Why should I shower? There’s no one around that cares.”
Despite what the common conception may be, people cans still see (or smell) how long it’s been since you’ve stepped into a shower, used a hair brush, or changed out of your uniform.
Once Ursuline girls got into the habit of not caring about personal hygiene, things went downhill for us all. Really, showering, brushing your hair, and changing your clothes are not that difficult, considering that, well, we’re in high-school.
“But I’m so busy…I have no time!” you might say.
Now, I understand if you would rather watch the newest episode of Gossip Girl than change your clothes and such, but in the end you will feel much more refreshed having taken a stab at your personal hygiene.
Personally, I use showering as an excuse to set aside my Anatomy homework. It is one of the best distraction there is because it is necessary to your health. Parents cannot get mad at you for not studying if you are in the shower. If you are updating your status on Facebook, on the other hand…
Changing out of your uniform also should become a priority. It’s such a refreshing feeling to put on a clean, unwrinkled uniform rather than simply waking up in yesterday’s dirt and grime. I personally like to leave school at school when I get home, so the idea of sleeping in my plaid skirt sounds like one of the least appealing things ever.
And so, fellow students, I want to encourage you to strive for better hygiene. I have faith that, together, we can eliminate the all-girls school stench one person at a time.
—Lee W. ’10
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