It’s become as over used as “lol”, and is heard throughout the halls of Buena on a daily basis. It drives some nuts, and some can’t help but use it. It can mean a variety of things, from how a person acts and dresses to even being a synonym for cool. It is swag.

Swag was originally derived from swagger, meaning “to walk or strut with a defiant or insolent air, to boast or brag noisily.”  Swagger used to define a person’s manner, conduct, or walk. Usually meaning the person  had an ostentatious display of arrogance and conceit. 

Swag has been tossed around in teens’ slang for quite some time now, but what exactly is swag? Can anyone have swag? Is there hope for the “swagless?” Luckily, a few of Buena’s swagtastic teens have some tips and definitions of their own to share. 

Junior Dante Tost says swag is the way you carry yourself. “It’s how you dress and the way you present yourself.” He added that it’s “how you represent your brands.” Tost said anyone can have swag, but to those who consider themselves swagless he has some advice: “matching. You have to make sure you match.” 

Jon Samuel, junior, is another swagful student, and he says swag in the fashion sense is standing out. “It’s a style that catches peoples’ eyes and attention.” His main inspiration are from “people from New York City, California, or Paris. They have the most swag.” 

For those of us not from these areas, who are just a little short on swag there is still hope. Samuel said swag is a skill, “You can’t be born with it.” He does believe almost anyone can have swag; however, those who are swagless cannot, “they’re swagless for a reason.” 

Another student with an abundance of swag is Nick Cervantes, who associates swag with class. “It’s your demeanor, style and attitude toward other people.” So for those in desperate need of swag be aware that although there is good swag, there is also bad swag. Cervantes believes this, and says it is “just like having class or not.” 

Also, you can lose your swag, so be careful! “When you do something stupid you lose it. When you admit you’re wrong and fix your mistakes you gain it,” Cervantes said. So what is the best way to gain good swag without losing it? Cervantes says the key is to “be different.”

Senior Kyani Dillard says swag is “someone who attracts girls.” Dillard believes the person with the most swag is the person with the most money. For him, swag comes naturally, and he was one of the lucky few who were “born with it.”  He, too, believes anyone can have swag, and “If you want girls, swag is the way to go!”

Sophomore Juan Rodriguez has his fair share of swag. He agrees that swag is “just how you present yourself and your attitude.”  He too was lucky enough to be born with his swag, but agrees that any poor swagless soul can obtain it. His style was developed over time, and he “started dressing how I thought looked good.” Rodriguez assures those who are lacking swag that “everyone has swag in their own way. Other people might not like it as much as they do but as long as they feel they look good, they have swag.”

So for those who are desperately seeking to obtain any type of swag this article has hopefully provided some guidance. Many of Buena’s swagful students have given their opinions as well as their advice about how to gain swag. So although you may not have been born with swag, it is still possible to have some. Just remember to be different, match your clothing, and stand out, and you’ll be well on your way to a swagful life!