Hi, yes, it’s me, the girl with the fussy hair, lack of skill when it comes to talking to boys, plain looks, and a highly sought-after best friend. After this one sentence you may already think “Hey! That sounds kinda like me!” So, whether you have no clue what I’m talking about, or if you read that first sentence and thought “preach,” let’s begin.

For most of my life I had the same best friend. She knew what to say and when to say it, what clothes to wear, and how to pull off the effortlessly “cool” vibe. I, on the other hand, always seemed to create the awkward lull in conversations, always dressed in a sweatshirt and leggings, and woke up 10 minutes before leaving for school, which left no time to do hair or makeup. I was the optimal sidekick: plain and loyal. In group settings, she would take over conversation, making everyone laugh and laude her for just how fantastically cool she’d been lately, while I would sit and laugh along with the crowd.

Unsurprisingly (or perhaps surprisingly), because of my tie to my best friend, not only was I asked to tell a person my name more than once because they had forgotten, I was constantly asked what it was like to be best friends with this person that, to some, resembled a mythical being because of her social status. But, you know what’s even better than being asked these questions? Having a nickname for when I really was so forgettable- Insert Name Here’s Friend. Ah yes, being referred to as someone’s friend and not your own name. Although this seemed like nothing at first, as time went on, it got very old.

But, when the idea of living in someone’s shadow got old, something very important happened. I became much more aware of the image I wanted to convey of myself to others. I focused more attention on the friends and hobbies that made me genuinely happy, and I spoke up and created a voice for myself. The person I wanted to be eventually became the person I was.

So, in hopes of keeping this short yet sweet, I’ll try to wrap this up right now. If you, like me, are the “forgettable friend,” let me remind you that you’re probably a really cool person who has a ton of talents and is beautiful no matter what. Don’t be afraid to show the world who you are because as much as you may feel forgettable, I can promise you, you most certainly are not.