Wear Your Heart by Hannah

Wear Your Heart by Hannah - July 2025 Scholarship Essay

Dear Self,

Your beauty aluminates from within. I know it's hard now but don't worry, I'll be here for you. Growing up in a world where social media played a role in what was deemed as the "beauty standard" was hard. For one I wasn't your typical Instagram baddie, the girl guys talked about non-stop and fought over. I was you average school nerd who tried so hard to be apart of the cool kids club. More specifically, I struggled with body image and being confident in my own skin. Visits to the mall were so humbling, I would try on a dress and it would either be too big or expose my collar bones which made me even more insecure. Family members who always commented on how "skinny" I was and how I should "gain weight". It wasn't like I didn't try, my efforts just weren't good enough. In comparison to my other friends who were developed and larger in weight, it was hard playing the role as a the "skinny friend". The comparison of being skinny in relation to a broomstick made me cry. Endless nights I would spend in my pillow pouring out my emotions and waking up feeling ugly. For so long I felt so insecure in my body. I told myself that I would have to deal with it for the rest of my life and no guy would ever want me. I projection so much of my thoughts and feelings about body onto myself and it only made things worse. Wearing clothes unbearable and forget about bathing suits and tank tops. It was torture forcing my arms and legs in that piece of clothing knowing that I hated the way I look. Now you may ask yourself, what changed? My mindset did. All this time I've been holding the weight of other people's insecurity on the clothing I wear. From that day forward I decided to pour into myself and practice positive messages. This has tremendously helped me with learning to accept myself. I am a big advocate for wearing my heart on my sleeve and to any other girls struggling with body image remember who you are and what you stand for.