I have a scar on my face. It's about 1/2 an inch long. It's a light shade of pink and it sits on the bottom right corner of my face, close to the edge of my lip. I got this little beauty this past summer when I decided to make the poor decision of hugging a large dog from behind while he was by his food bowl. I don't have a dog at home so I was unaware of the obscure rule against petting an animal that is next to a food bowl. Nonetheless, he bit me.

It didn't hurt as much as I imagined a dog bite would, however, I had to get five stitches and ice the right side of my face for a couple of days. I was eventually fine and it wasn't the end of the world. Yes, I was left with a mark on my face that I wasn't used to seeing in the mirror everyday, but it didn't bother me. It still doesn't bother me. I don't think it makes me look that much different from how I looked before, and I am not insecure or self-conscious about it at all. Some days I don't even notice that it is there, but I find that others do.

I find other people shifting their gaze to the bottom right corner of my face, fixating their stare on my little scar. It confuses me and makes me reconsider my thoughts about the whole scar situation. I consider my scar to be something so minuscule and barely noticeable, and yet other people constantly stare and judge me for it. People ask me if it's a "gross pimple" or an "ugly birthmark." It doesn't phase me because I'm quick to respond by explaining that it's a scar from a dog bite, however, it makes me wonder why people are so judgmental.

I don't understand why other people think that my scar makes me look "gross" or "ugly." I don't understand why people suggest I should get plastic surgery for it or pressure me to cover it up with makeup. I don't understand how something so small and meaningless could cause this cloud of judgement hovering over me.

Being judged by having this scar makes me think about the insecurities and flaws that other girls my age worry about daily. As young women, we focus our attention on making sure that our makeup looks "on point" or that our hair isn't frizzy. We make sure we cover every blemish with concealer and feel self-conscious when we don't. I wear makeup and style my hair frequently, but I think that if I forget to mask a pimple one day I shouldn't be judged for it. If I have a scar or any other kind of blemish or flaw I should not feel insecure about it.

My little scar has made me realize the struggles that girls my age undergo daily.

Girls my age are consistently obsessing over their looks and how other people perceive them. Instead of accepting who they are and feeling confident in their physical appearance, they dramatize the smallest and most insignificant physical flaw. If they have a blemish, their eyebrows are too "bushy", their boobs aren't "pushed up" enough, or any other sort of superficial dilemma; girls like me will obsess over hiding them. I agree with putting on makeup, waxing/threading your eyebrows, and wearing that extra push-up bra to make you feel good about yourself because I do it, too. What I fail to comprehend is the common feeling of needing to hide your flaws so others won't judge you. This, to me, is very unnecessary. If you feel as if that flaw on your body is not a big deal, then do not let others influence your opinion. No one should ever feel self-conscious, especially due to another person's judgement.

Whenever I feel insecure about my scar I remind myself that I am confident in who I am. Yes, other people may judge me for the way I look but I can't let what other people think bother me. I am who I am and that nasty little scar is a part of me. It may not be what other people consider to be "pretty" or beautiful" but I don't care. I understand that it's natural to care about what people think of me and I am a frequent offender of feeling insecure, but I can't. I can't let other people hurt me. I can't let people make me feel bad about myself. I'm too strong to let anyone make me feel insecure and I have a battle wound to prove it. I know it's been expressed so many times on mainstream radio, but everyone really should love themselves. Scars and all.

So next time someone stares at my beautiful battle wound, I'll simply smile. I won't feel any different about myself because my scar doesn't change who I am as a person. My scar doesn't alter my perception of myself. My scar doesn't mar me.

Also, considering the fact I got five stitches on my face, it makes me look tough. So, don't mess with me. Or at least don't mess with me when I'm by my bowl of food.