I've always been one of the tallest girls (or people) in the room. It used to make me so self-conscious, especially in high school, when I was taller than all of the boys around me. I would wear the flattest shoes, slouch, and stand a long enough distance from boys so that no one would notice my height. Despite my impeccable posture developed from years of dancing ballet, I would lower my shoulders and hunch my back when I was around people who were shorter than me. When someone called me tall, I would take it as an insult. Because my height was something I could not change or hide from anyone, it slowly became my biggest insecurity.

It was not until my first job interview that I realized that I had a huge advantage with my height. The man who interviewed me was shorter than me, and he seemed to give me immediate respect as he looked up to me when I walked into the room. This was the first time that I realized my height can have a positive effect in my life. The interview went well, and I got the job.

Because the world did not end from me being taller than my new employer, I decided to make my height work for me at a university networking event. I wore my highest heels, stood tall, and waltzed into the room. My stature gave me a new-found confidence, and I gained the ability to effortlessly work the room. A metaphorical weight was lifted off of my shoulders, my posture was straighter, and I gravitated more towards the center of the room instead of staying far away from people. Instead of focusing on my insecurities, I focused on my accomplishments, relationships, and conversations. I was eye-to-eye with many of the alumni and employers, and I (literally) stood above my peers.

Even outside the job world, I have found ways that I can use my height to my advantage. Since I stick out of a group, I am often the first person approached in any given situation. This has allowed me to make new friends, introduce people to my peers who I think they would get along with, and be a friendly, welcoming face. I also never have to worry about not being seen in photos, which, for a sorority girl, is obviously a priority.

I am 5-foot-9- and I am not afraid to wear my highest heels, even if it makes me over six feet tall. I can be graceful, powerful, and elegant, while still dressing to my own personal style. It no longer offends me when people make fun of me for being tall. I have not only accepted my height, but I have embraced it and use it to my advantage whenever I can.

Don't be afraid to embrace your insecurities and be the best self you can be!