A letter to the girl who finally stood up
I had always been that girl that constantly gave. I was always there for my so called “friends”, always being nice even in instances where I shouldn't have been. And frankly I was being taken advantage of and pushed around. The most difficult thing for me to learn was how and when to stand up for myself. It was also the most rewarding thing I have ever done. If you are anything like me, you have always had that personality and will to keep everyone around you happy and to constantly be that rock for everyone to lean on. But there comes a time when you learn to be your own rock and pick who gets to lean on you. I personally came to this realization when I finally put myself first. Let me paint this picture for you, It was my first semester in college and I put myself in a friend group that I thought was a good one. Turns out I had put all my eggs in the wrong basket. I was just going with the crowd and not really thinking for myself and what was best for me. I had lost my sense of self through trying to in a sense “fit in”. I had always been someone who was onto of her game. I was always hard working, always looking for a challenge, and always involved in school. Through placing myself in the wrong people, I was not only taken advantage of, but along the way I lost everything I ever stood for and everything I ever was. I lost my work ethic, I was suddenly okay with not being involved in the community and school. I lost everything that I prided myself for, but I was determined to get who I was back.
So I stood up for myself. I started to stand on my own two feet and take what I wanted out of life and slowly became the girl I was. Through doing this, I lost my “friend” group (which in all honesty, was a very good thing). I was left by them by simply doing my own thing and picking myself.
It was a blessing in disguise
So to that girl who is trying to break free and finally stand up on her own two feet. Do it. Take what you want out of life and simply do you. If you lose friends on the way, they weren't really friends. Your REAL friends will stay and applaud you for trying to better yourself. Learn to take everything and anything you want out of life. Because at the end of the day, the only person who matters is you. If something is bothering you, change it. If you want something, work for it. Stand up for yourself and know what you are truly worth. Make yourself in your image, and not in what you think everyone else wants for you. Most importantly, stay true to yourself and your values and stand up when those things are being taken away from you.
“ Don’t chase people, be yourself, do your own thing and work hard. The right people- the ones who really belong in your life- will come to you and stay.”
