Entry #8: Growing Pains

Growing up is rough. As an almost 21 year old girl I think I can officially say it's one of the worst things I've ever done. Between acne, constantly changing body, and suddenly caring about what people think about me it was a tough few years. When I was younger I had this intense desire to fit in, to be part of the popular group that always seemed like they were having the most fun. I worked extra hard my first year of high school trying to fit in to a new place where I knew only a handful of people. Slowly I made friends with "the popular kids" and you know what happened? It was crap. They all talked bad about each other behind the others back and every day was a game of who do we not like now. I grew up in a small school of 200-300 kids with the same 25 kids by my side from 2nd-8th grade. We had our problems and closer friends but at the end of the day we were more of a family than anything else. By my sophomore year I was completely over the idea of being popular. Instead I tried finding friends that drew out the good in me instead of cultivating this petty side I never knew I had. Flash forward to nowadays and my friend group is the best it can be. The friends I made my freshman year of college were truly the best thing to happen to me. They taught me to stop caring what people thought, that I don't need to wear makeup if I don't feel like it, and at the end of the day as long as I'm comfortable nothing else matters. Everyone needs friends like that, people who encourage them to be completely themselves. That's the one thing I want to make sure to teach my kids, your friends should reflect the traits you want yourself to have. Don't surround yourself with people due to their social status because that's not friendship.