I know the way I portray and interpret this song may seem ridiculous by most that detest it or even adore it, but in my opinion this is the beauty of music. Music is an art that left open for interpretation. If you enjoy a song I encourage you to take whatever meaning you can from it, because although the artist may have different intentions we can all learn a lot from music and never allow anyone to tell you what it's supposed to mean, because your ears will always be your own.

 

During my time in middle school I remember one particular hooligan of the eighth grade class that caught my attention even more so than the early blooming girls and their training bras. It wasn't the fact that his face screamed, "how much Ice Cream do you guys think I can fit into my mouth at one time?" Nor was it the fact that he sported a similar hairstyle to that of late nights very own Conan O’Brien. This odd fellow caught my eye because of his keenness on dressing in a suit and tie everyday just for his classes. 

 

School to a boy just beginning puberty is usually the time when you begin flirt with the ladies and piss off your educators. Pee in sinks and start food fights in the cafeteria. Students are often stripped of their favorite sports hats by the vice principal during this era, but instead this boy made an effort to dawn the attire of a man three times his age. At first I thought he might of been another suburban braggart pleading for the attention his parents neglected to offer, but after closer inspection of his social activities it seemed he did have more friends than just the average stuffed animals at home most teenage boys still kept around to talk to about their girlfriend issues or how much pubic hair they had grown over the last week.

This boy strayed away from Target brands, Abercrombie classics and even the raunchy call of muscle tees. A classic navy blue blazer, a white button down underneath, some finely ironed khakis and a clean tie that only got festive around the appropriate holidays. 

 

When I was in the sixth grade I thought this boy should have been eating lunch with a special needs counselor and discussing his home life, but looking back I envy him in so many ways. I still remember the last occasion in which I saw this gent. It was towards the end of my first year in middle school. The boy had begun to pass my math class and popped his head in to bid farewell to my teacher. As he slipped into the room my classmates gawked at the chap’s attire.

 

After casual banter with my teacher he left my sight for the final time, red faced and trousers rising high as I peered about the room for the my classmates bodily reaction. As anticipated, the majority of my classmates were taken aback by what the boy was wearing. The question of what motivated him to dress in such a manner was on the tip of all our tongues but only one child had the spunk to step up and ask our teacher that irresistible question.

 

(The following dialogue has been recreated to the best of my memory, but I assure the reader that a very similar conversation really did ensue.)

 

"Mr. Warnica, why the heck does he bother to wear a suite and tie every freaking day? That dude is not normal."

My teacher didn't chuckle, nor did he scorn the kid for what had been said. He only replied with an honest answer that halted the entire class from ever questioning this young boys choice in style ever again.

 

"He’s dressing for success. You could really learn from that."

 

I never attempted to make as large of a statement as that boy had at Derby Middle School, but that young rapscallion really did inspire me to wear a nice collared shirt to class almost everyday from then on. Easy to throw on and fit the color of my tight blue jean blues well. 

 

In my late teenage years my smile and style would reflect my own form of shaking up the average High School outfit. A sort of; ‘shaggy chic attire. As this young man had inspired me to reflect a distinct sense of identity and personality through apparel. This boy dressed for success, and to me it’s very reminiscent of the Pavement song, ‘Here’. 

 

"I was dressed for success, but success it never comes... Come join us in a prayer, we’ll be waiting, waiting where? Everything’s ending here." 

 

I suppose the boy was a shining example to all in our school and even community as to just how low the average fashion and even standard for aspiration had fallen. All the males seemed determined to match the next Jonas brother while the females attempted to see who could wear fewer clothes than Britney Spears without breaking dress code or their self esteem. 

 

Rather than dress up to fit in like the rest of us, this inspirational young man chose to dress up for patience, ambition and confidence. He may have been waiting for something that would never come, but regardless of the imminent end of middle school or adolescence, he dressed for success as he awaited it. Proud to stand out amongst the rest of our masks and encouraged not by his classmates, but his only his own integrity.