Growing up, I struggled with being myself. In middle school and high school, I was insecure. People called me a teacher’s pet and a suck up. I never knew if people actually wanted to be my friend, or if they just wanted to use me for my homework answers. People also made fun of my weight on more than one occasion. In middle school, I was not super skinny, like most of the girls my age, and so naturally, I started hating my appearance. I did everything that I could to try and physically change myself -- I would often starve myself, I dyed my hair, and I wore blue color contacts. I let my insecurities get the best of me so much that I lost sight of who I was.
At TCNJ, I do not have to pretend. We go to a school where differences are applauded. Everyone has their own sense of style. There are clubs that cater to all interests, and if there is not a club for you, you have the ability start one. Everyone is encouraged to branch out, get involved, and to be a part of TCNJ's immense diversity. Here, I am able to be myself without reservations.
I can be the nerd I am and always will be. People no longer call me a suck up. Rather, they turn to me for advice and admire my work ethic.
I can say that knitting is one of my favorite hobbies. I used to be embarrassed by my hobby. Here, I found people with the same interest; there is even a knitting club on campus. I have friends at TCNJ who want to learn how to knit!
I can be my unathletic, uncoordinated self. In the past, people laughed at me in gym class. I would hide in the back of the gym; teams always picked me last. Now, I do Zumba and go on walks with my friends to stay active. No more hiding in the back for this girl!
I can say I want to be a middle school English teacher, and people will support me. In high school, not many people supported me. They said I was wasting my potential, and I was never going to make any money. At TCNJ, the amount of support for teachers is incredible. I can finally be excited about my future.
Most importantly, I can look in the mirror and like what I see. No more color contacts. No more hating myself. My friends at school gave me the confidence boost that I desperately needed, and they helped me see myself in a completely different light.
I mean it when I say that at TCNJ you are free to be yourself. Never change on account of anyone else; do not lie about how much money your family has or how popular you were in high school. Why bother? Instead, take college as an opportunity to live without hesitation. Do not live to appease a crowd, but rather live to do the things you love and be the person you want to be. Oscar Wilde puts it perfectly: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” I live with this quote in mind, and I hope you will too.
