Maybe it’s part of a delayed post-breakup coping mechanism or maybe it’s the impulsiveness of teenage rebellion finally kicking in, but lately I’m feeling super compelled to do something to dramatically change up my appearance — piercings, hair color, clothes, maybe even tattoos: you know, the whole enchilada.

Senior year has been a year of drastic change in various aspects of my life so far, and maybe I’m just subliminally attempting to alter my external appearance to match my new, matured self, if that even makes any sense at all. Or maybe dying my hair red and piercing my nose just seems like a neat idea for kicks and giggles. I can actually hear myself arguing with my mom about it now: “No, Judith, it’s not a phase.”

To anyone that knows me personally, a few of those things may come as a shock, like the piercings and the tattoos, namely. Honestly, they come as a shock to me too — the same basic female who’s had practically the same hairstyle since sixth grade and is about as edgy as a circle.

However, I feel like high school is such a vital time for experimentation in terms of beauty. It’s a time to develop and perfect your personal style, whatever that may be.

You should dye your hair a million different colors. Wear every single eyeshadow in your palette. Wear no makeup at all whatsoever. Straighten your hair. Curl your hair. Cut your hair. Shave it all off if that floats your boat. Do things differently all the time, whether it’s changing up the way you apply your eyeliner or dying your hair turquoise. By the time you leave high school, you should find out what you like and what looks good on you.

Whether it’s subtle or really out there, change is a such a monumental part of growth.