Outlier by Victoria

Outlier by Victoria - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

Lack of self confidence in what I believed in, fear of becoming the outlier if I took one step out of line, of being judged of what I thought, what I said, how I dressed and acted, every girl stepping into the world of puberty and growing up has this same mindset. This was me.

All through middle school and freshman year, I had tried so hard to become one of the so-called popular girls, trying on at least four different outfits before settling each morning in hopes that it would bring me to their attention, but not as a deer in a headlight but rather as “come sit with us at lunch” type of attention. Yet, that never happened. The closest I got was making small talk about our love for the Jonas Brothers.

Somewhere along the way, I felt that I had grown up a bit. Not listening to the vicious gossip, breaking away from conformity, acting on my own mind instead of someone else’s. Tris Prior of Veronica Roth’s book, Divergent taught me that it is indeed okay to live within my own shell.

Standing up for one’s beliefs are honored rather than shunned. I became a individual, immune to what people think of me. If they liked me, great, we’ll be friends. If not, their loss because they are missing out on an opportunity to make a new friend.

Tris is confident to her beliefs and morals, and I respect that. I strive to be more like her each day as I never fail to speak my mind out and hope for the best. I no longer try all too hard to be popular because to me that doesn't mean that they’re envied by all the others but rather that they are nice and speaks with everyone. I may still be an outlier but a confident one.