How many people in this school can honestly say they love themselves?

The number would probably be small. However, I’m one of the few people who can confidently say I love myself, I think I’m beautiful and I love who I am because I don’t pretend to be someone else.

In my past columns, I’ve expressed that I’m a Ferris Bueller disciple, (a classic 80’s lover in general), an avid Star Wars and Dallas Cowboys fan, a softball player, a kid-adult forever and that I really love my incredible family. This is who I am and I’m not ashamed to be quirky and eccentric. I can be silly just as much as I can be mature. I’m not afraid to speak my mind and be brave when it really matters.

This column is one of those times. I’m here to say that it’s okay to be yourself because you shouldn’t be acting like someone you’re not. You don’t have to act perfect or look like a super-model. I’d rather see originality than see the same person over and over again. I think of people like individual gems, even if they don’t think they’re beautiful, they each shine in their own different way.

I didn’t always used to be like this, it’s hard to be born with this kind of mentality. I used to try to tone down my quirks and be what someone else deemed as normal, but what’s the fun in that? I’d rather be singing “Smelly Cat” from Friends at the top of my lungs, instead of worrying about what other people think.

I honestly thought I needed to change my hair, face and body to fit the standards that someone else set, to follow the rules I didn’t write. I’d look in the mirror and smile at the person I see, rather than hear the words of society in my head that say I’m not good enough.

Don’t consider it egotistical or vain, consider it confident to be who you are and love it. You can be anything you want in this life, why be someone else? You don’t need to change who you are or change the way you look. It’s okay to be different, that’s how it’s meant to be. That’s my perception of beauty, of perfection.