Respect: It's a term that's come a far way from the meaning it used to convey. Nowadays, it is so hard to find someone who genuinely respects the person you are, that it has become so simple for us to completely let our guard down as soon as possible. Even though high school is not the only dating scene I will encounter in my life, I have learned a lot about boys and a lot about myself from dealing with the male gender in Sparta, NJ. Yes, boys like you when you're pretty, and they want you to be outgoing, but we never hear of boys wanting you to be independent or empowered or strong of will. Below are some of the reasons I plan on showing off my self-respect to the boys I'm about to meet in college.
1. You will attract quality men.
Quality men? Those exist in high school and college? LOL. But really — People are vastly attracted to self-sufficient people. You don't want someone that is going to rely on you for every aspect of life. By having that respect for yourself, you're displaying just how much you deserve and how you will not stand for anything less, i.e. the man of your dreams (who loves you even when your hair is a mess and you don't have make up on).
2. You will set the tone for every relationship you will have.
Self-respect is not only imperative in romantic relationships, but friendships as well. You are never going to change if you don't start somewhere, and that somewhere could be the beginning of some amazing relationships. It may even be as straightforward as having the strength to not let your dog on your new leather couch, or even the outspokenness to not let your big sister walk all over you just because she's older. So many people are going to come into your life, and it could be your own choice as to if they stay or not.
3. You will learn to let go of negative people.
I am the first to agree that friendships are so incredibly important, but who doesn't love to curl up — alone — in bed with a warm coffee to finish that book they love? What I'm saying is that it's okay to be on your own sometimes rather than being with people who depend on you for everything. By eliminating negative people from your life, you are paving the way for every relationship to come.
4. You will help others gain self-respect.
By watching other people love themselves, you will catch on. My best friend, Diana, is the most independent and prideful person I know, and I have grown into myself because of her. We are best friends, but we still take plenty of time for ourselves. She has taught me to stand up for myself when other people don't and to love myself when the boy I'm falling for won't. If it wasn't for her positive energy, I wouldn't be encouraging you to believe in yourself.
5. You will be happier.
There is nothing like the contentedness of sitting on the beach with an iced tea in your hand and the sun beating right down on you, but how often does that really happen? You have to create your own happiness in the world. You must love yourself before you can give yourself to anyone else. If the people in your life can make you happy and if you can make yourself happy, there's not much more you can really ask for.
All in all, out of all the possible qualities you could have, self-respect is by far the most admirable. You could always have a nice smile, or have an adorable laugh, but it takes a real woman to be self-reliant and to love themselves endlessly.
