Ever since I can remember, it’s been extremely hard for me to stand up to people. Controversy just isn’t my thing, and whenever I do speak up, I feel like I’m the bad guy. Throughout grade school, middle school, and even high school, it was easy to just ignore the things people were doing around me. Sometimes, I’d muster up the courage to say something, but that was far and few between. Now that I am in college, it’s time for me to be a strong woman and take a stand.

Being the quiet girl who avoided conflict was always my claim to fame. Here at college, I don’t have my parents right next to me ready to help fight my battles. It’s all in my hands. There have been times recently where I’ve felt like I have been manipulated by others. There are many examples of this that I won’t explain in detail, but to say it plainly, college kids are notorious for “borrowing” things and not replacing them.

So, how does one handle situations like this? Well, you could do it in many different ways. The most mature way involves pulling the person aside and explaining in a firm but reasonable manner that you don’t appreciate what they are doing. Most of the time, people will be respectful about it in return. This makes coming to an agreement so much easier on both ends. On the other hand, you may be “blessed” with a person whose maturity levels aren’t functioning well enough to process what you are saying. Perhaps, you may lose a friend from this confrontation, but who wants to be friends with a person in that kind of state anyway? After all, a very wise, beloved author. Dr. Seuss, once reminded us that. “...those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

To conclude this reflection, I must remind you all that only the friendships which are healthy and productive will last in the long run. Down these roads of life, you will run into plenty of people who will lure you into their complex realm of unproductive friendships/personal relationships. In situations like these, it is your responsibility to speak up. It’s easier said than done (trust me, I know). Once you do these things, however, another part of your self-esteem becomes stronger, and you become closer to understanding who you really are and what you really stand for. After all, that’s what college, and living life in general, is all about.