Like my father, I was blessed with the gift of height. Even when I was a little girl I towered over my friends and by the time I was in fifth grade, I was taller than my mom. As I’ve grown older (and taller), I’ve learned to see the advantages of being tall. It’s great to be able to reach things, be viewed as athletic (even if you’re painfully uncoordinated), see past crowds and never have to shop for heels, but like anything else, being tall does have its challenges.

After hearing yet another joke about my height earlier this week, I decided to make a list of struggles only tall girls understand:

1. Dresses that fit like t-shirts.

Dear Forever 21, you make cute clothes. It would be GREAT if you could come out with a dress that actually covers my butt. Thanks!

2. Finding a guy that is taller than you feels impossible.

Why do I have to grow faster than guys? Why?

3. And if you do find a decent tall guy, he’s taken by a short girl.

Short girls, you have SO many guy options. Tall guys are hard to find! Sharing is caring my friends.

4. When you decide to let it go and go on a date with a shorter guy, you can’t wear heels.

I just want to look cute and not feel like a giant… is that so much to ask?

5. People constantly ask if you play basketball or volleyball.

Just because I’m tall doesn’t mean I’m coordinated… but yes, yes I do play sports. No, I didn't pick basketball just because I'm tall. Stop stereotyping.

6. Questioning if you’ll ever find a pair of jeans that don’t fit like floods.

Bless the person who came up with the concept of “long” jeans and kudos to the CEO of Long Tall Sally… you da real MVP.

7. Your gymnastics dream died in the fourth grade.

If you hit 5’0” before middle school, it’s all over.

8. Towering over your friends.

*insert awkward knee bend here*

9. Two words: LEG. ROOM.

Lecture halls, backseats of cars, airplanes, buses and stadium seats are a living nightmare. Seriously, who came up with the idea to jam people in seats like that? It’s just wrong.

10. Being called beautiful, strong and powerful.

Because at the end of the day, you’re proud of your height and wouldn’t change a thing. Own it!