"Don't let anything define you. Be broad.”

This is a quote, which may seem minuscule to some, but was monumental to me. In life, many feel the pressure to conform to societal norms. For some, it may seem just too scary to go outside of their comforts zones and drift away from the pack. For others, it is just a normal part of life to be risky and to take chances. I find myself struggling to break out and be different.

There is a never-ending pressure for us to look a certain way. I chose to use “us” because men and women are put into a box of how we should look and act based on society’s opinion of “gender norms”. Men should be strong, outspoken, and athletic and women must be thin, reserved, and dainty. When one decides to venture outside of those “gender norms”, they often face a great amount of ridicule and harassment.

We also put a lot of pressure on ourselves to constantly be perfect. When we make mistakes, we often try to hide them out of fear of being ridiculed by others. Some may try to hide those mistakes and decisions. But the truth is, mistakes are a part of life. Everyone makes them and no one is perfect.

No matter where you come from, what your background is, or the decisions you have made in the past, choose to continue to live your life and refuse to focus on the past. Do not let your past or what others think of you define who you are as a person and what you are capable of in the future. Choose to reinvent yourself and continue to let both yourself and your mind grow. Challenge yourself to go outside of your comfort zone. Surround yourself with people who you love and who love you just as much. Try your best to see the beauty in the world around you because I promise there is a lot of it. I know it can seem scary and the world may seem dark at times, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and new adventures to be had.

Be bold. Be you. And don’t let anyone or anything define you.