THE suppression of uniqueness has characterised periods in history. Some of these periods were truly dark in the fact that anyone who did not look a certain way was persecuted and discriminated against. There have also been less intense periods of oppression, during which societal facets such as fashion, science, music, and art left no room for diversity and freedom of expression. Everything was expected to be done within a specific set of rules, and their societies shunned those who stepped outside of these rules. Today, we celebrate the genius of artists, musicians, and scientists who were criticised during their time for proposing thoughts and ideas that simply did not fall within the box intended to define them.

Generation Z is unique from past generations in the fact that it encourages and accepts complete freedom of expression. Even those who have extremely polarising views and those who express themselves in extraordinary ways have a space and platform in our generation. Most people are free to explore the limits of their own identities without being chastised for their choices, while also being able to converse and discuss their experiences with others. This freedom has eliminated unfair obstacles that limited those who wish to excel in new fields, but it has also raised new questions.

It is truly extraordinary that the youngest members of our world can grow up in a place where self-expression is a natural part of their lives, rather than something they need to fight for. However, we must also begin to explore this new development and attempt to seek answers for the questions that now arise.
For instance, now that we have developed to a stage where we can truly express ourselves without the fear of being suppressed or discriminated against, we are beginning to wonder, what exactly is the point of self-expression? Is it to differentiate ourselves from each other? Is it to create a space for ourselves to be who we truly are? Additionally, does self-expression really matter if we end up blending in with everyone else, even when we are in our truest forms?

We are beginning to realise that we are a lot like snowflakes! There are no two snowflakes that are exactly alike, as the path that they take to the ground results in the formation of unique patterns. Yet, when they do settle on the ground or on the trees, their uniqueness disappears and all we perceive is a large, white blanket of snow. It is true that every snowflake is unique, and if we stop to examine each one, we may be amazed by how differently beautiful they are. However, the truth is that their uniqueness is too minute to perceive in a single glance or from a distance.

Similarly, every human being is indeed extremely unique. No one in the world shares the exact same experiences and perceptions as anyone else. Even identical twins who share the same DNA are often quite different from each other! Nevertheless, unless one stops to meet every person they come across and unravel the intricacies of their personality, it is unlikely that we will ever fully know how uniquely beautiful every individual is. In the perception of others, we all blend into a homogeneous blanket of strangers. We are seen to exist and influence the world in our own ways, but we are rarely perceived as separate individuals, much like the snowflakes that blend into a plain sheet of snow.

This feeling can be quite lonely, as it creates the effect of being completely unseen even when we are in our truest form. Even when we express ourselves, we may not end up being very unique.
It is at this point that two crucial facts can comfort us: firstly, integration is part of individualism, and secondly, the entire point of individualism is to be your truest self, regardless of how society views us. Our individual identity is also shaped by the relationships we have with others, and it is not just about who we are. This means that blending in with a group of people can actually be an advantage in helping us define our identities more clearly. Most importantly, we must always remember that regardless of whether we are viewed as unique or completely mundane, this should not affect how we express ourselves. After all, this is what the meaning of self-expression is!