Perfection: the concept everybody says doesn’t exist, yet it’s the standard we all hold ourselves to. Why have we all become hypocrites with this impression of how a person should act and think on a daily basis? This is because society sets unattainable expectations for everything. From our image to be considered beautiful, to our grades to be considered for higher education and jobs. It seems like we have to be perfect on paper in order to get a chance to show what we can actually do. These expectations are what tear people apart. These expectations create a state of constant worry of not being good enough or the potential of disappointing someone. These expectations create the habit of second-guessing yourself. These expectations transform people, especially students, into individuals in need of a self-esteem boost instead of individuals confident in their intelligence and abilities. These expectations turned the most confident and smart person I know into someone who doubts what he is truly capable of doing in this world. These expectations overpower our personal happiness.
Perfection. It’s not real. It’s an imaginary concept put in our minds by society. Yet, we all want to be this. We want to be something that isn’t real. We want that protection from being criticized or turned down for something we can’t do. We want to be the person that is considered beautiful in everyone’s eyes, or the over-the-top qualified candidate for a job. We look for this characteristic in friendships and relationships, the “perfect guy” or the “perfect girl”. We constantly search for that image that covers up our flaws because we’re scared to admit the ways that we’re different or not “normal”. We fear being excluded. We are blinded by this idea of perfection. We reject our imperfections instead of embracing them.
Perfection. The sensation that once had a heavy influence on my life. I was my own toughest critic when it came to school and sports. The desire for perfection led to my valedictorian honor in high school and the chance to be a collegiate athlete, all good accomplishments I am proud of but the need to be perfect was too strong. I am still my own toughest critic but I no longer aim for perfection, I aim to be myself. The girl who will get a bad test grade or two, but will learn from her mistakes. The girl who will mess up a lab procedure from time to time, but will follow it correctly the next opportunity given. The girl who will miss some shots on the soccer field, but will practice that much harder to make them next time. The girl who is stubborn and strong-minded, only because she knows what she wants. The girl who is outspoken because somebody needs to be the one to voice their opinion. The girl who is more comfortable in sweatpants and a t-shirt than a dress. The girl whose mistakes won’t define her because she will live the life she wants to live because she embraces her differences. The girl who isn’t perfect, but has perfect imperfections.
