Friendships are hard enough without the constant weight of feeling inadequate compared to the people you're closest to. Social media, TV, and ads have played a role in the way that we perceive everyone around us- they have also lead us to constantly see the versions of ourselves that we wish to be.

It can be easy when you're surrounded by so many different people to compare yourself. It can be hard when you're friends with people so extraordinary that sometimes you feel trapped by an image of what you should be. You may feel you have to fit into checklist boxes that sum you up just to feel understood by your friends.

My friends all have qualities that I'd like to have.

I want to be more confident in social situations, I want to know that I'm right about something and not doubt myself, I want to enter a male-dominated classroom and get all the questions right because I am tired of society telling me women should only have certain occupations.

My friends have done amazing things and they continue to surprise me every day.

I am not my friends.

I sometimes get outshined by my extraverted friends that light up rooms; that doesn't mean that I want them to shine less brightly, it means I offer a duller glow that can pick them up when their days get rainy.

I'm not good at math or science but when I write, sometimes I feel like the paper will catch on fire if I don't write the words fast enough to get everything written that I hope I can say out loud.

I don't always like to speak up but I am always thinking and when the thoughts finally get loud enough I find myself speaking loudly. I don't care if my voice shakes or if I stumble over my words because when I talk, it's because I need to talk and I can't think of a time when the voice of the quietest women in the room doesn't turn heads.

My favorite thing about my friends is how much I learn from each of them.

I learn about them.

I learn about myself.

Without such a great support system, I would not be able to achieve my personal success.