Hey you,
Growing up, it is something we all have to do. We all do it differently. We learn differently, make different friends, and our choices are different. Growing up, it really does suck.
We all chose to worry about and focus on certain things. For some it's their looks, others it's their friends, for me it was fitting in. Throughout my adolescent years, I was ever too concerned about fitting in with my peers and what other people thought about me. I was always trying to choose the right group of friends, the right boy to have a crush on, the right clothes to wear, the right things to say. I was too focused on trying to choose the “right” things instead of letting life take its course and allowing things to happen on their own. I was far too concerned with what my peers and classmates thought about me, that I forgot to stop and take a minute to think about what I thought abut myself. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I started to realize how wrong I was.
Far too often we let the thoughts and opinions of others dictate who we are, who we become, and what we think of ourselves. You were born to be a unique individual who moves to the beat of your own drum. It takes time to figure out who you are and even more time to become comfortable with yourself, but it is well worth the wait. Society tells us there is a certain way to act, dress, look. If you don’t fit into these specific trends, then you are seen as an outsider. You should never be afraid to let your true colors shine and to be who you want to be. You will thank yourself for it one day.
You are not defined by the choices you make, the friends you have, or the boys that you date. There is not one right way to do something. You have to figure things out how things work for you. You are allowed to make mistakes and poor decisions, because that is how you learn. In order to succeed you must first fail.
I am at a point in my life where I am happy. I am happy in the decisions I have made, with the wonderful people surrounding me, and I am proud of the young woman I have grown to be. It took me a long time to become comfortable with myself and my interests. No matter what stage of life you are in, there are going to be people who dislike you, who try to bring you down, and who judge your every move. You must be doing something right, so keep growing and learning and overcoming any speed bumps you encounter along the way. Don’t force things to happen because despite your struggles and worries, everything will work itself out for the better. Find what makes you happy and stick with it. Learn to love the people around you, both the positive and negative ones. Take a step back to appreciate everything that life has given you. Love yourself.
Reach for the stars and never look back, you won't regret it.
Sincerely,
A once struggling young teen
