I’ve been meaning to write this letter for a while, but wasn’t exactly sure how to verbalize my thoughts.

I write this genuinely attempting to not be passive aggressive or hateful, but it’s rather difficult to write this without coming across as resentful. For the record, in no way, shape, or form is that my intention. I am not trying to do that at all. In fact, I’m writing this article for two very significant reasons. First, I am writing it for all the people who have experienced that awful feeling when someone incorrectly judges you or makes an assumption about your character without considering your feelings. And I get it; we are all guilty of this. Obviously we should refrain from judging others but too often it is so easy to make assumptions and jump to conclusions. That’s something we all have to work on, myself included.

Secondly, I’m writing this to those individuals who question others’ integrity without truly knowing that person. I would actually like to say thank you. Being told you’re something you’re not is a very strange and disheartening feeling. When I first had someone question my integrity, the thoughts that came to mind were, “Did this person truly just say that? Do they not know anything about me?” Obviously college is a time in which you change, determine what you believe in, and discover who you. However, I feel that I’ve always had a strong sense of who I am as an individual and what I value. I understand the importance of having passion for everything you do and ensuring you do everything to your best ability. That’s what integrity has always meant to me.

I write this with much consideration for how each one of us exhibits integrity in different ways. Regardless that I try my best to demonstrate integrity in my day-to-day life, others may perceive it very differently. But one shouldn’t have to prove their integrity, that would seem like a waste of time. Integrity should simply just exist.

Some conversations can become very one-dimensional and awkward with the person who misinterpreted your character. While you might not want to even give this person the time of day, this is often the moment when you hear your parent’s voice in your head that says, “Don’t sink down to someone else’s level. Treat others how you would want to be treated.” We should do our best to get past any grudges and rise above the unflattering things people might say about us, because it is ultimately not worth our time to be offended or hurt by someone else’s misinterpretation of our character.

Yes, I was upset I was told I lacked integrity but at the same time, I was even more empowered to continue working even harder than I already do. Remember to stay true to yourself, your values, and you too may encounter a situation where your integrity is questioned and overcome it like I did. Now when I think back, I just laugh to myself and think, “Lack of integrity my ass!”