Being a Girl Means You Have To Work Harder

Even just typing that lit a fire inside of me. Unfortunately, it's true. As a female, I need to work harder to prove myself then the guy next to me.

I just recently started a new job and at this new job I was asked to refrain from speaking by a guy that is in no way, shape or form my superior. He told me that I was being distracting. Now, while I definitely don't want to distract anyone from doing their work, I found it degrading that he asked me to stop speaking when he and another ~male~ coworker had been chatting the entire morning.

At another one of my jobs, I was asked to assist a professional staff member with something. Mind you, I work and go to class approximately 50 hours a week, so I'm quite capable. When assisting this staff member, he mocked me in front of a client because I took a second to answer one of his questions.

It's the little things like this that add up and drive you crazy. So what I wish someone told me a few years ago is that all that matters is I am doing and being my best, so for the sake of all girls everywhere, don't let that little stuff get to you or slow you down! Let it empower you! Take the higher road and prove them all wrong!

Hard Work Doesn't Always Pay Off

This drives me up a wall but unfortunately it is true. Sometimes, hard work does not pay off. There is no worse feeling than studying your butt off for a test or spending hours in the library working on an assignment just to get a poor grade. All you can do is suck it up and accept it. I wish someone had told me that a very long time ago, because being the very determined and hard headed person I am, I could have saved myself a lot of stress and frustration had I known that.

These things happen to the best of us and that sometimes it's really nothing you did or didn't do.

You Are What's Most Important

I think I was definitely late to get this memo, but I wish someone had told me not to care so much about everyone else and about giving and doing for everyone else. At the end of the day, you need to take care of yourself and you only really have yourself.

If you need to cancel plans because you're having an off day, do it. If you need to skip class because you mentally cannot handle it, do it. We only have one life and it is so important to take care of yourself and do what's best for you, even if society doesn't seem to see it that way.

Happiness is Not a Goal

There is no linear path to achieving happiness. Happiness is not a goal on your to do list that you can work towards, achieve, check off the list and be done with. Happiness is an emotion and it comes and goes like everything else. Life is like a roller coaster and it is so important to remember that, especially when you are going through the lows.

I wish someone had told me this years ago because it would have saved me from a lot of tears and frustration!