Just Be Me by Melissa

Just Be Me by Melissa - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

Life is full of lessons. We never stop learning, even when we’re not in school. I was always a fan of learning something new. I love to expand my knowledge as much as possible. Despite my academic knowledge and success, I do not always learn as easily outside of a classroom environment. For this reason I take every life lesson to heart.
The most important life lesson I have learned is to be myself. As a child, I often thought that I had to be like everyone else in order to have friends. Fitting in with the crowd was my priority. I wanted to wear what other girls wore. I had to have the latest toys, gadgets, and accessories. If everyone liked me, that was all that mattered.
When I had entered my pre-teen stage, I began to care more about expressing myself. I realized that being an individual and making my own decisions was important. Despite this epiphany, I continued to follow the crowd. I loved my friends too much for me to do something that would provoke them ostracize me. I spoke like they did, participated in whatever they partook in, and listened to their music. They were not always the best influences, but they were my friends. I should have known that they would still love and accept me, even if I was different, but I was too insecure. Slowly, I had begun realized that I did not know who I was anymore. In all my efforts to fit in, I had lost myself.
During the summer before high school, I decided that I would turn it all around. I would walk with confidence and be myself. I made sure to formulate my own opinion and speak for myself. Whenever I was uncomfortable with something, I refrained from participating in it. If there were some people who did not like me that was okay. I could be myself and not worry or care about being judged.
By the time high school started, I was sure of myself. I still had some insecurities and a part of me did still care about what other people think of me. However, I did not let any of that stop me. I remained true to myself. I decided that I would never change myself for anyone or anything. This new way of thinking has led to me friends that I will have for life. I have learned that the most important people in my life love me for who I am. I now know that I don’t need to fit in. Why would you want to live someone else’s life when you have your own? As cliché as it sounds, being yourself is what is most important. It took years for me to realize this, but never again will I forget it.