Everyone assumes things about others before they get to know them, even if they don’t realize it. This also means that everyone is perceived as someone that they might not be in reality. The University of Minnesota states that, “As we perceive others, we make impressions about their personality, likeability, attractiveness, and other characteristics.”

      Senior Marly Lee is perceived to be someone she isn’t every day.

“Especially this year I have noticed that people tend to think I have a ton of friends and have been in multiple relationships. [People] also assume that I am super happy all the time,” Lee said. 

     Even though people see her as a very social person, Lee is a more quiet, conserved person who likes to keep to herself. 

     “I see myself as a closed off person to people who aren’t close to me. I am anxious and worried most of the time wondering what is to come in the future. I’m not very social but can talk to others about things I’m confident about. I am creative, smart, kind, and organized,” Lee said. 

     When it comes to people assuming things about her, Lee has learned not to care as much as she has in the past. She, like most other high school students, used to pretend to be someone she wasn’t so that she could fit in and look good to others. 

     “I used to take it very personally and try to change myself to please them,” Lee said. 

     Even though she has learned not to care as much what people think of her, she still thinks that people should get to know her, and others, before assuming things about them that may or may not be true. 

     “Instead of creating their own idea of me they should get to know me better and learn who I really am,” Lee said. 

     It’s hard not to assume something about someone without actually knowing them, because everyone is different and unique in their own way. 

     “[People] don’t know other people’s stories. I do this too, where you will think things about people because you don’t know their story,” Lee said. 

     Without knowing someone’s true story, there is no way of knowing what they are like without making assumptions.