If someone were to walk by me, they'd notice certain characteristics immediately. Things like my height, my facial features or how I walk. When I pass someone in public—I always think they're looking at what I'm most insecure about. My big nose, my teeth, or my long and awkward legs.

When I was in high school these features bothered me almost every day.

Hate is a strong word but I truly hated my nose. I caught myself many times looking at girls in my class' noses and wishing I could have it. Typing that out it sounds so silly and far fetched—but it's true.

I was born without my adult lateral incisors (the teeth between your two front teeth and canines). Braces managed to slightly mask the obvious gaps. When they were off, the gaps were even more obvious. I had to wear a retainer for two years until my teeth were matured. I had to take my retainer out every time I ate and always dreaded taking it out. I thought it was so obvious when I didn't have it in and felt so ugly without it. I was hungry all the time because I didn't want to eat around people. Those two years when I had to wear that retainer were not fun. I wanted to look like everyone else.

I'm five foot nine with long legs and torso. I have never been athletic at any point in my life. If I wanted to get in shape, I really had to commit to it and whenever I looked the mirror I would always look at my legs and hate how skinny they were.

I was very insecure and constantly compared myself to others.

During my sophomore year, all of my friends started getting boyfriends and I was stuck on the sidelines. I knew that I was different than other girls but at that time I didn't want to be. I wanted to be liked and adored for my looks, not who I was as a person.

My point is that I never had that inner voice that told I was smart and pretty enough. I needed to remind myself to stop trying to get in a relationship because 'everyone else was doing it' or that I wanted to feel loved and adored.

Instead, I learned the hard way that rushing into a relationship, especially in high school is not good and that seemingly 'good guys' will still let you down. That if you don't picture taking this guy home to meet your parents he's probably not the one.

I needed someone to tell me a "wcw" or "mcm" is not a testament to how strong a relationship is. That while someone's relationship might seem perfect on Instagram, it's not like that in real life.

What I needed the most was enough confidence in myself to realize that didn't need any of that. I needed to hold my head high and pray for the right time and guy. Yet no matter how many times my friends, my mom or my older cousins told me those exact words, I never believed it. I just felt like nobody went through the exact same circumstances that I went through. I wanted to someone who completely related to me. Someone who never dated in high school and who never felt like they were enough for their family, friends and gross high school boys.

To the high schooler relating to every word above, this is for you.

As Aibileen in "The Help" says, "You is smart, you is kind, you is important." I know high school can make you feel less than others, but you are so much more. You will get over that mountainous pile of homework and demands of extra-curricular activities.

Don't let the naysayers get you down, you can do whatever you set your mind to.

To the seniors, if you feel like you don't know what to do after high school, you have plenty of time. Remember that high school isn't forever and that someday those little arguments with your peers will be nonexistent. If you are lonely and wanting affection don't look for it in a boy— look for it in a friend or a family member.

Pray for the right guy, don't look at Instagram or Snapchat. If a boy has made you feel worthless and self-conscious he does not deserve you.

If a friend has let you down time and time again don't waste your time on them, and don't open up to someone that has a history of sharing it with others.

Don't wear makeup because everyone else is doing it, do it because YOU want to, and wear things that you and only you want to wear.

Finally, if you don't feel like you are enough, you are. You are so enough it unbelievable how enough you are.