Why is society so obsessed with beauty that intelligence is overlooked? Middle school is the start of having cliques and developing crushes on other kids. I remember in middle school, guys were always seeking out girls and the girls would begin wearing makeup to attract their attention. At that age, it's like no one wants to read a book. Instead, they wanted to hang out and make out with each other.

At the age of 12, girls start to wear lip gloss then progress into a full face of makeup. I remember Disney shows had girls trying to improve themselves to get the guy. We often forget looks can fade but knowledge is here to stay.

For future generations, let's influence them to read and bring knowledge into their lives instead of fixating on their beauty.

Parents, it is okay to tell your child they are beautiful, worthy of love but more importantly, they have the ability to change their world. They can be knowledgable and passionate about their interests and succeed, make friends, and change the world.

"Grey's Anatomy" is filled with strong, female characters who love to show off their skills — encourage your daughters to be like them.

In this world, we need more young girls interested in more than pretty boys and longing for validation. Let's build them up and let them fly. It's okay to have crushes but it's not okay to have them run our lives. We shall not let others' opinions determine our worth.

It's not lame if people want to read, be intelligent and find out what you're good at. There are hobbies we can learn from. There are lessons life gives us and we should find our self-worth first. If you're interested in a field like politics, dominate the field, and just be great.