But if That Light Is Under a Bushel... It's Lost Something Kind of Crucial

My story is a simple one. Like most kids who aren't built like the typical jock, I experienced hardship growing up. I wasn't "normal", and because of this, I was “bullied”. I use this word sparingly, because what I went through was typical "nothing", similar to what happens in today's world. It was never in large ways. Kids called me "fat" and made fun of my voice... nothing you haven’t heard before. While there is no doubt that their words hurt, what hurt worse was the self-image I was creating for myself. I believed everything they said and held it against myself for years.

There are two reasons why I have such strong feelings on this topic: the first being that the pressure people put on me to be "normal" led me to experience the things I now love, and the second being that once I gained that confidence, I used it as a tool to suppress the act of bullying anywhere else in my life. By the time I had reached my junior year in high school, I was sure of myself. I had insecurities, but I wasn't going to let anyone attack me because they couldn't handle their own insecurities. Seeing others and myself in this way allowed me to begin to look at myself in a way I never had before. I realized that I have a gift to offer the world. No matter who judges me or what they judge me for, as long as I stay true to myself, nothing can stop me.

 I am writing this now because I want to spread this message across the world. I want people to know that faith in yourself can offset all harm others send your way. I want to share this so I can inspire other young kids to begin to love themselves. It’s crucial that we teach the new generation that whoever they are is who they are meant to be. We need to teach kids that even though media glorifies beauty and talent... personality, courage and dedication can change the world!

Why does society glorify beauty and talent? While it’s true that both of those things are gifts in and of themselves, they are not what we should use to define the people we hold in high regard. If personality, courage, and dedication are what will change the world, then we need to begin to emphasize that when we evaluate others. We need to teach the world that each and every person has the potential to start something great.