“I live in Beverly Hills. I go to Beverly Hills High School and as funny as it may seem, I am not filthy rich. Are all citizens of Beverly Hills owners of BMWs, mansions, and cellular phones? No!
I can understand why you might think that though. We’ve all seen “Beverly Hills: 90210.” Donna had a beemer; Steve lived in a huge extravagant house; and they all shopped on Rodeo Drive. Most of them have divorced parents, and they make those whose parents have lasted together seem almost as outsiders. And you never spot any of the females in jeans or a simple shirt. Watching “90210” is like watching models on the street instead of on the runway.
All we do is shop?
While browsing in a video store, you might come across a movie called “Troop Beverly Hills.” The plot focuses on a group of girls who know nothing about life without hired help, let alone life in the wilderness. They earn badges in shopping, inspecting jewelry and camping out at the Beverly Hills Hotel. That’s the image that America has of Beverly Hills girls.
Then there is the movie and TV show “Clueless.” The students walk around the halls of Beverly sporting designer clothing, pagers, and nose jobs. And they’re so moronic! I did enjoy the movie, but this is not exactly what I want others to think of me.
Beverly is not a movie
I attend Beverly High and as far as I can tell, it’s no movie. Before my freshman year, cousins and friends alike warned me that I would be swallowed into a world of drugs pushed by Calvin Klein-clad students. They worried about me because I used to attend a private school with only 20 classmates. I expected halls like those in “90210,” with a DJ booth and clean lockers. That’s not exactly what I found there. The school looked just like any other public school; dirty, smelly, hard-to-open lockers; cracked walls; chipped paint and average-looking students. There were a handful of kids who intimidated me with their BCBG silk blouses and Guess leggings, but only a handful. Our teachers don’t exactly let us make calls from our cell phones in class like in “Clueless.”
But the stereotypes persist. Last year, the girl’s varsity basketball team was having an off season. They tried their best but lost many times by wide margins. Later I saw a news anchor comment on the team’s situation. She said that the girls should spend less time worrying about their make-up and more on their shooting skills. Her shallow remark had informed the entire city of Los Angeles that Beverly Hills girls don’t care about anything but their looks.
I’m nervous about telling people where I live
Although I have only been living in the lovely city for a little over two years, I know what it feels like to be treated like a “typical” person from Beverly Hills. I feel almost ashamed to tell people where I live. I want to conceal my identity so I’m not seen as a stuck-up snob. I can picture the faces of those I’ve told giving me a knowing nod, probably thinking to themselves,” Oh, Beverly Hills. Well, she’s gotta be rich.” Well, I’m not. I am just like any teenager living in another part of Los Angeles. I remember a time when I went with my aunt to work. She talks to unprivileged teens about their lives. Before we walked in, she told me she thought it would be better if I did not mention where I lived; they might make stereotypical conclusions about me. Do I need to hide my address so others won’t think less of me?
I do not exactly live in the well-to-do part of Beverly Hills, but it is tiring to explain to everyone I meet that it is a pretty big city. I cannot blame anyone for how they might think of me; it’s only natural to sub-consciously assume what you see on TV is the same in real life. There are some people out there who try to live up to the expectations of Beverly Hills citizens, which makes it hard for the rest of us trying to live it down. Just for the record, I don’t have a lavish backyard or a swimming pool with a fountain. My clothes are not Armani or Versace, but they look and feel just fine. Isn’t that what matters in the end anyway?”