I remember seeing Lily Collins on Nickelodeon when I was younger. Then she popped up in some of my favorite movies like “The Blindside” and “Stuck in Love”. We also have the same last name, which I think is pretty cool (I know Collins is a pretty popular last name but that’s beside the point). Watching her in these movies and seeing her on TV made her seem like your typical Hollywood actress. She definitely seemed more grounded and humble than some of the other stars that populate Hollywood, but she still seemed like she had it all. She’s absolutely gorgeous, she’s gotten the opportunity to play so many amazing characters, and she has been able to travel all over the world. So how could I, a very average girl from a small town in Ohio, possibly relate to someone like Lily Collins?

I was browsing through Barnes and Noble the other day with a gift card burning a hole in my pocket. I had a few books in my hands (I’m obsessed with thrillers right now) when I saw Lily Collins’ book “Unfiltered” on one of the end caps. I had wanted to read it for a while but I’m a broke college kid who doesn’t get to buy books as often as I would like. So I put down one of the other books I was going to get and I added “Unfiltered” to my pile.

I was hooked from page one. The only reason it took me more than one day to finish the book was because I re-read a few parts of the book that I really resonated with. I actually feel bad now for being so naïve and assuming that because she’s an actress she must have it all. After reading her autobiography I realized that an actress and a very average girl from a small town in Ohio have more in common than just the same last name.

In “Unfiltered”, Lily Collins opens up about some of her most vulnerable times in life and how she overcame them. She’s overcome some very serious hardships in her life and she doesn’t tell you it’s easy which was refreshing to here.

Sometimes when you talk to people about some of the hardships you’re going through they tell you not to worry too much because, in the end, everything will work out. And maybe that’s true and in a few years what I’m going through right now won’t be an issue and everything will have worked out. But it’s what happens between now and then that will really determine if everything turns out okay. Sometimes you actually have to do something to make sure everything turns out okay and it’s the journey that makes you stronger.

In her debut book, Lily tells the world what those journeys were like for her and the ups and downs that come with the journey. I found myself resonating with almost every issue she has faced. From the more serious issues like dealing with the distorted image of perfection and the anxiety about what I should weigh and look like, to the more lighthearted “issues” like looking a lot younger than I actually am.

“Unfiltered” not only proved to me that Lily Collins and I have gone through a lot of the same things in life, it proved to me I am stronger than I have let myself believe recently.

It was refreshing to hear such an honest account of someone who is so strong conquering her demons. It was enlightening to realize that I can conquer mine as well and that it’s okay not to have my shit figured out at 21. I mean, does anyone have it all figured out at 21?

It might sound weird that it took reading about someone else getting through her hardships to realize that I'm strong enough to do it, but that is exactly how this book impacted me. It took reading the wise words of someone who has been there before telling me that everyone falls but more importantly, you can stand up if you try.

Thanks to Lily I learned the best thing to do is live life unfiltered and not to let anyone or anything convince me that I’m not strong enough.