Growing up in this day and age is difficult. Everywhere you look, there are beautiful and skinny models promoting basically everything. Often times I would look at the ads and think, “why don’t I look like that” or “what can I do to look like that?” Little did I know that every picture is photoshopped and even the models themselves don’t look like that.

It took me a while to be comfortable with my body. Every time I would look into a mirror I would immediately point out my flaws with a fine-tooth comb, almost like that one scene in Regina George’s room from “Mean Girls,” or in the dressing room in “White Chicks.” I’d also be in school talking to my friends and saying something like “I’m one chunky monkey” or “man, do I need to lose weight” almost as if I was looking for some sort of validation or someone to say “no, you aren’t, you’re beautiful.”

I wish I knew then that I didn’t need someone to tell me I was “skinny” or “fit,” I just needed to love myself more and be comfortable with myself.

Now that I am almost 21, I've learned to accept my body more, and love myself for who I am. I try to focus less on ads with thin models, and more on the product that they’re promoting. I don’t look down and feel shame for what I used to call my “cookie pouch” (stomach), I look down and see someone who is healthy and trying to be the best person I can be.

I keep my mirror in my closet because I know that if it weren’t in there I’d be constantly looking at my body. Instead, I have a smaller mirror for putting on makeup and shooting some killer finger guns.

I try not to put too much pressure on myself because I learned that you should never judge yourself too harshly because in the end you’re stuck with yourself and if you can’t love yourself, then who can?

I keep my mirror in the back of my closet because it doesn’t define me.