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I'm An 18-Year-Old With Stretch Marks And I Own Them Because They Make Me Human

An open letter to the marks that make me human.

Hannah Schmidt

Jun 13, 2018

Wake Forest

994

I'm An 18-Year-Old With Stretch Marks And I Own Them Because They Make Me Human

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj8DM3fAaPk/?tagged=stretchmarks

I have a secret to tell: I am 18 years old and have stretch marks. This is a letter to them.

Dear stretchmarks,

I have tried so long to conceal you and hide your beauty from the rest of the world. I attempted to hide your stories and my journey while trying to fit society's standards. I wanted to be one of the tall, tan, fit girls I see on Instagram, magazine covers, and television. I wanted to be a girl that others could be envious of. I stared at you in the mirror and contorted my body in the efforts to hide you in my summer clothes.

I would grab my skin and try to measure how much I needed to shed in order to be "beautiful" and would cover myself in makeup to make these valleys into flat ground. I hated you for so long and prayed for you to magically disappear. However, I have learned that you make me human.

Thank you stretch marks, you have made me human.

You surround my hips as a constant reminder that I have been blessed with child-bearing hips just like the women in my family. My butt highlights my hard work on the journey to achieve this amazing asset. You make your way along my stomach as a road map of my fluctuating yet beautiful body. My thighs welcome you as a souvenir of the long hours in the dance studio. My whole body thanks you for making me so unique.

I am the woman I am today because you are a constant reminder of what I have experienced. I have learned to embrace your every line and crease you leave on my body. You are teaching me to love myself and every journey I have been on. I am sorry it has taken me this long to embrace you and all your beauty, but I am so grateful that you are a part of me.

Sincerely,

Your stretch marked owner

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I'm An 18-Year-Old With Stretch Marks And I Own Them Because They Make Me Human

An open letter to the marks that make me human.

Thank you stretch marks, you have made me human.

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Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

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