The tough girl is the classic leader, get stuff done kind of girl. Her heart is probably good as gold but may be a little rough around the edges. She is a someone who lives behind the thick, solid walls that she has built up.

Being a tough girl, you have never been the one to show too many emotions. Often, people cannot tell whether you are happy or mad. You don't scream when you see friends around campus and you don't want everyone to hear your sob story. You struggle to open up and want to put out this exterior that everything is right in the world.

It is so much easier to be the tough person than to be judged for showing too much emotion. But, at the end of the day, you have a lot going on in your head, and it is just too much for your heart to take. When you are somewhere by yourself, this is where you feel safest to let the emotions run.

I am this person. I have problems breaking down my walls and being vulnerable with people around me. I bottle everything up until I'm alone and feel it is safe to let it out.

Right now, I'm learning it's okay to break down. To not be the perfect induvial that has to act like she has everything together.

Being the strong person for our group of friends or family is fine, but that doesn't mean you can't ask them for help when you need it. It doesn't make you weak to need someone to lean on. Nothing is wrong to go from being the tough person in the group to the person who breaks down.

You are missing so much by keeping this tough exterior up. You are missing out on connecting with people all around you and making meaningful relationships or awesome friendships. You are so special, and everyone should know what makes you, you.

Although it is awesome to be this tough girl, you don't always have to be.