For a lot of you, a fresh school year is approaching. You're either finding yourself walking down the hallways of high school for your first time, facing middle school all over again, finishing up your last few years of school before opening a new chapter of your life, or you're headed to college...... Here's the words of someone that has stood where you are at:
"No matter where life takes you...big cities, small towns...you'll inevitably come across small minds. People who think that they're better than you. People who think that material things, or being pretty or popular automatically makes you a worthwhile human being. I'd like to tell today's youth that none of these things matter unless you have strength of character, integrity, sense of pride, and if you're lucky enough to have these things...don't ever sell them. Don't ever sell out."
When you face the first day of school, you will be surrounded by people that might feel like they are better than you. People that feel like their popularity makes them higher than you. People that feel like the amount of money they have makes them superior. You'll be surrounded by "cliques" and you just might be labeled. But remember: these labels do not define you. You are who you are and no one else can tell you that.
Guys, there is such a big world out there. It's huge and middle school/high school/college are just a small part of it. The movie "Never Been Kissed" captured it best when Drew Barrymore stood at the high school prom and said, "There's a big world out there. Bigger than prom, bigger than high school, and it won't matter if you were the prom queen or the quarterback of the football team or the biggest nerd. Find out who you are and try not to be afraid of it." It doesn't matter what kind of social standing you had/have, what clique you were/are a part of because when you get out into that great big world, no one cares. I went to college full of who I thought I was... and here I am, eight years later, who I truly am.
As you start this new school year, let go of expectations. I know it's a long stretch, but I beg of you to let go of cliques. Get out of this small town mindset we have all become accustomed to and see the beauty in people... even those, before, you would never have taken a second look at. What it comes down to at the end of the day... "it's not about what you look like, or your job, or how successful you are. it's about having people in your life that you love and who love you...that's all that matters." [Grey's Anatomy- who doesn't love that show?]
I know being yourself is a struggle sometimes. I found a quote that stated, "to be nothing but yourself in a world which is doing it's best, night and day, to make you everyone else, means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting," but it's the truth. Fight that battle this year. Love who you are! Find who you are! Be who you are. No one else can be that for you. People are going to label you; it's how you overcome those labels. that's what matters.
I am not a fan of cliques. Never have been. I feel it robs you of meeting people that could change your life... all because they look differently, think differently, have different opinions, or enjoy different activities. "You can find the good in anybody if you just give them a chance, benefit of the doubt. Sometimes people disappoint you, sometimes they surprise you, but you never really get to know them until you listen for what's in their heart."
This year, make a vow within yourself that you are going to go beyond the norm of high school. Be different. Be you. Embrace all that you are. Because middle school/high school/college comes and goes in the blink of an eye and then you're thrust into a world that can make you or break you. Dreams come true every day and all of the impossibilities in your mind can become possibilities. Just go after it. Follow your heart. And most importantly, let yourself change this world.
