As a kid, we were taught to follow the rules, never talk back to adults, and to do as you are told. Well also as I began to grow up I found that staying silent and following the rules to a T can only take you so far. I was very stressed out but had no escape because again you never talk back, and you do as you're told. Now I'm a college student learning the ways of the world and every experience leading up to this point has taught me that holding your tongue can only do so much. You've got to learn to be your own person instead of letting yourself be "shaped" into something that's expected.

I remember the first time I finally talked back to someone who thought I would just sit there and take it. IT WAS LIBERATING. I found my voice. I found something I was forced to lose even before I knew what it was like. Then I realized, we are all being groomed to become society's robots and I want nothing to do with it. I want to be my own person and follow my own dreams instead of being told what I want before I even knew myself.

I can't let myself feel trapped in this cage inside myself because I'm scared to disturb everyone else's rhythm of life scared to make ripples that could change anyone's perspective of me...but that's the thing life is meant to be disturbed, and to learn how to cope with the constant ripples life throws at you if not what good will it do you?

No, I will not sit back and watch someone talk down to me or any other person if it's uncalled for.

No, I won't let you tell what I can or cannot do with myself. If I want to wear makeup or wear different clothes than what people want to see me in then I WILL.

I will do what makes me happy and not blindly follow the demands of someone who is even unhappy with their life. I won't let myself be dragged down with the misery that is not my own. That is another thing your happiness can not be reliant on anyone else's. You are in charge of keeping yourself content. You also cant put someone's happiness before your all the time either. Keep yourself at number one because your sanity is most important.

I am going to choose happiness every time. Why would I want to waste my life doing what is expected if it makes me miserable? Others can be miserable all they want, but I will let myself reach its full potential here. No, I'm not saying talking back is okay. What I'm trying to relay to you is that sometimes it's necessary to keep your own sanity or even everyone else's. You cant let yourself stay in the box society put you in, dumping their lost dreams onto you before you even took your first breath. Stop being their puppet and start being your own person and before you know it your quality of life will increase in more ways than one.

Go on. Make your ripples and let yourself be as happy as possible, you owe yourself that much.