I get it. It's hard. It's very hard to be yourself, especially at a younger age when you're just beginning to learn a lot about yourself and a lot about the people around you. In high school, particularly, it's even harder to act like your true self because you feel as if so many people are watching and judging every single thing you do, say, wear, post, like, etc...the list goes on and on. I say this because I speak from experience. It is very easy to fall into ways of thinking that would not normally be your own. But one of the biggest things I've taken away from high school is that it is so important to just be yourself.

Easier said than done, I know. Some people have no problem and radiate confidence in everything they do and say. For others, that's not so much the case. Although it would be great to feel strong in everything you do, it's just not that easy because that is just the way life is. But, if I could tell my freshman year self anything before entering high school, I would just tell her to not care so much and just be who you are, without a doubt.

Look at it this way: there is no one out there like you. A quote that has always stuck out to me is: "Someone you haven't even met yet is wondering what it would be like to know someone like you." This is the truth. And is that not a wonderful idea to think about? You are the only you there is in this world, and that is something seriously awesome. There's so much good in that, and the moment you start looking at it like that, as a good thing, you will feel so much better about your life. It's a wonderful thing to realize that you are the only you out there and you bring something very special and unique to this world, something someone doesn't have, but you do. It would be a complete and utter waste to throw away the person you are because you feel like you need to "fit in". You don't ever need to try to be someone you're not for people who genuinely care about you. Those good, genuine people, you don't need to try for because they will love you for who you are, no matter what. That's something to always remember.

There's no reason to pretend. There's no reason to act like you like that thing whenever you really don't. There's no point in dressing a certain way if it doesn't make you feel good inside. There's no reason to being around people you don't genuinely enjoy being around, especially if they never cared about your well-being in the first place. All of these things have negative connotations, and if you're bringing negativity in your life, that's not helping anything, is it?

Once you throw away everyone else’s perception of you and just start doing what you want to be doing and liking what you want to like, everything just seems to come a little bit easier. The people around you become more genuine and you feel better, because you’re not pretending anymore. There’s no pretending to be done when you’re being yourself, all you have to do is live your life.

So, to those who are struggling to be themselves, when you read these words, I hope you take them to heart. I hope it lets you open yourself up to all of the amazing possibilities and opportunities life has to offer whenever you're done apologizing for being yourself and just embrace everything you have to offer. People are attracted to those who seem that they are real. Why do you think the world loves Ed Sheeran so much? Along with his impeccable talent, he has a lovable personality that seems genuine and real. He's a perfect example of being himself and not conforming to the music industry's idea of what a "pop male singer" should be. He just gets up on stage with a guitar and sings about whatever he wants to sing about while unapologetically being himself. Something the world definitely needs more of. People like seeing that in celebrities. People look up to him for that. Just like people will look up to you, too.

I'll end this with one of my favorite quotes by someone who has always inspired me, but unfortunately, I never got the chance to tell him, since he passed away in July of 2013. This quote is a good reminder for anyone and everyone, and it has left a mark on me, and I hope it leaves a mark on you, too.

"So, maybe you like to play football. Maybe you like to sing and dance. Maybe you like both, maybe you don't like either. It doesn't matter. Just be yourself. Just be you, because that's good enough for me." - Cory Monteith, 1982-2013