“Dress for success” is a phrase almost everyone has heard or will hear at one point in life. But what does it mean to actually do so?

Brendan Hellweg, Williston class of 2014, says, “Dressing for success is a sign of respect both for the activity in which you are involved and the people with whom you are collaborating–that respect through deliberative choice of attire.”

Mr. Tyree, A Williston English teacher says, “Dressing for success is a way of constructing an image that conveys respect on a few levels. You want to convey respect for the environment, atmosphere, and people you work with. At the same time you imply self-respect or confidence.”

It is no surprise that what you wear says a lot about you to the people around you. Respect is very important with establishing faculty and student relationships, and it may just start with what you wear.

When entering an environment like Williston’s, you no longer just represent yourself, but your parents, the school, and our community, which is why Williston implements a dress code.

Ms. Noble describes Williston’s dress code as “very comfortable for students—modest, clean and tidy.”

It is imperative in a school setting such as Williston’s to present ourselves in a way that is professional and suitable especially to the eyes looking in. As Mr. Koritkoski states, “The image we present [is] to the outside: how casual is it or how serious of an atmosphere is it? Dress code is a part of that. It is the image you are presenting.”

Williston’s dress code is preparing students for the working world, while still allowing a little leeway with jeans and half zip pullovers for comfort. But, if students had the option what exactly would you see students wearing around campus?

To this point Verdi Degbey, junior class president, says, “I am pretty sure that many guys would be walking around campus in sweatpants and girls in yoga pants or leggings. The ‘school’ feel of the campus would be less serious. I know that in the future, our jobs will require us to dress a certain way whether we like it or not and dress code at Williston is just getting us ready for it.”

Without a dress code, would the atmosphere and feel of the classrooms change as drastically as we imagine? What would people begin to would conclude from a school dressed in sweat pants and leggings? To this point Ms. Noble says, “I don’t think we’d be quite comfortable with the whole sweatpants ‘roll out of bed’ situation.”

Even though colleges and even some boarding schools operate with the absence of dress code it is not practical in preparing you for the future and the type of clothing we will eventually have to wear. Mr. Koritkoski comments, “There are very few jobs in the world where you’re going to get to wake up in the morning and put on your sweatpants or keep on your sweat pants and go do your job.”

So, how can you actually dress for success?

Hellweg notes, “I put on a crisp oxford rather than a ratty polo; I have a great love for learning, and a deep appreciation for my classmates and teachers. So, I show that appreciation in my menswear. Looking smart, though, makes you feel smart, which every now and then encourages you to act the part. Don’t look ostentatious – I’ve made that mistake. You’re here to learn. Make it look like that’s the case.”

Mr. Tyree notes, “There can be a fine line between looking sharp and overdressing, and we’ve all crossed it from time to time. When it’s the school day – take it seriously, show some pride in your community, and dress to respect.”

“You won’t get an A in a class because you wore just the right shirt. But you may feel more invested in your scholarship and take greater care in your academic pursuits if you feel like you’re dressed for the part” Hellweg concludes.

The dress code here at Williston prepares us for the environments we will encounter after leaving the school. Compared to other schools who wear mandatory suit and tie, Williston has one of the more flexible dress codes. It is good to look at all the positives dress code brings and not so much to dwell on the fact that we can’t wear leggings and sweat pants. Make the most it and dress for success