Be True to Yourself and Cultivate Class, not Trash, Author Advises

The Student Life section of Utah State Today highlights work written by the talented student journalists at Utah State University. Each week, the editor selects a story that has been published in The Utah Statesman or the Hard News Café or both for inclusion in Utah State Today.

Be True to Yourself and Cultivate Class, Not Trash, Author Advises

By Becca Holliday in The Hard News Café, Sunday, February 5, 2012

Television has changed a lot from the days of Boy Meets World and other wholesome programming. Teens and young adults are now bombarded with images of young people like those in Jersey Shore and Bad Girls Club.

Jordan Christy, author of How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World, wrote her book to reach out to those who want to stay classy in a world full of Snookis and Paris Hiltons.

Christy came to Utah State University Thursday night [Feb, 2, 2012] to talk about her book on class, grace and style before a crowd of young women and men gathered in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom to ask questions and get tips on staying true to themselves and how to be classy, not trashy.

Christy didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming an author. She went to college on a piano scholarship and wanted to be a songwriter. After college, she got a job at a record label as a publicist.

Christy says she remembers being in middle school and feeling like a nobody. The other girls in school were concerned with boys and parties, but Christy says she wanted to stay true to herself and her morals even when it wasn’t fun. As a result, she says she was left with few friends.

USU students asked her how she got through it. Her mother played a big role in her life, she said.

“She is the embodiment of all this stuff I talk about,” Christy said.

In her book, Christy touches on the importance of surrounding yourself with good friends. We are often judged by who our friends are, she said.

“Friends play into the whole picture of who you present yourself to be,” Christy said.

Which raises the question: What do you do when you find yourself surrounded by people who may not be painting a pretty picture?

Christy suggests putting some distance between yourself and them. The friendship doesn’t have to end in a huge fight, she said. She also recommends participating in activities that you feel comfortable with, and “invite them into that world.”

Some other tips and tools from Christy included what to do when you’ve had a not-so-classy moment — “delete that picture from Facebook and maybe don’t Twitter about it next time” — and how to stay classy in the workplace, what to do in tacky situations, and how to attract classy men.

“Class attracts class,” she said.

Her main message: Be true to yourself and your morals. In regard to integrity and class, she says, “I think the two go hand in hand.”

Although no sequel is in sight for Christy’s book, she has begun developing plans for a movie. The screenplay is in progress and the search for a producer is under way.

“Always try to be the best possible version of yourself,” Christy told her audience.

Being classy isn’t about the little black dress, elegant hair and a string of pearls — “It all starts on the inside.”

TP