To my insecure best friend,

You've been my best friend for the past six or so months. We met during our first weekend as college freshman and ever since then we've been pretty inseparable and I've been able to see how insecure you really are. Whether we're taking pictures, eating lunch, or just having a heart to heart after one of us has had an emotional breakdown, I always see it. Even though you don't say much about your insecurity, I can see just by looking at you that you're incredibly insecure.

I know from our many conversations that you're insecure about your appearance. You think you're not thin enough or muscular enough, or maybe even not pretty enough. When we're about to go out to a party or go to the beach, you double check your reflection in the mirror before we leave. I'm not judging you, though. In fact, I do the same thing. I just wish you saw yourself for what you really are.

You're beautiful. Not only physically, but you're a beautiful person as well. You have volunteered your time and well-being to go to Nepal to help people that aren't as fortunate as we are. Any time you hear someone say something negative about anyone else, you do your best to put an end to it. When people hurt you, you give them second chances because you know that people make mistakes. If I'm having a bad day and I'm on the verge of tears (or already there), you're in my room right away to talk to me and tell me that everything will be okay. I don't think you realize how beautiful of a person you really are.

You're also so smart. I'm an honors student and I see things in ways that others don't, but I do have off days and more "blonde moments" than I care to admit. You, though- you're always up to speed. Even on your off days, your intelligence doesn't dwindle. I don't know how you do it, but I find that to be a pretty remarkable trait considering the fact that college students are notorious for being lazy and not performing to their fullest potential academically.

You're one of the most motivated girls that I know. You're doing everything that you can and it hurts to know that sometimes you don't feel like you're enough. You take care of your body by exercising and eating healthy and you do it every single day. Sure, sometimes we polish off a whole pint of ice cream, but we just have to have that kind of night on occasion and that's perfectly okay. You put so much into your school work and you had the highest GPA in our pledge class (which I'm super proud of you for). You do your best to be the best friend you possibly can and you often succeed.

I don't know why you're insecure or who planted the seed in your head that you aren't good enough, but that person or those people don't matter. Nobody that puts you down should matter to you and I know that your ambitious and strong personality will eventually resonate through whatever negative words are thrown your way. You are enough and you have been since we went to one of our first college parties together, and of course since long before I knew you.

I'm so thankful to be able to call you my best friend and my sorority sister. Although we're the same age and I have different strengths of my own, I look up to you in so many ways. Keep being your wonderful, beautiful self because I love you just the way you are and I know very well that so many other people do too.