Dear Nobody,

You're passionate but lacking the talent to be known by anybody. You spend your free time indulging in the things you so desperately wish you were better at. Day in and day out, you're asking yourself, "Where the hell do I belong?" People barely know your name, but every time you walk down the hallway you feel their every glance. With "MISFIT" written on your forehead and passion bleeding through your eyes, nobody knows who you are, and nobody tries to find out, either. You are a nobody.

You're the girl who doodles mediocre, wild ideas in her notebooks, but you're not in the Art Honors Society–or even taking art classes... so how could you be known for your passions? You're not good enough.

You're the boy who spends hours after school throwing all your energy into shooting hoops; hoping to one day be good enough to get the courage to try out for the team and make it this time. Then you'll be somebody, right? But for right now, you are nobody.

You're the drama kid who spends hours at rehearsals every week, investing all of your passion into a production. When people find out you're in the drama club, they ask what part you have, and you cringe with embarrassment as you answer with, "ensemble," because you know people say it doesn't count unless you have a lead role.

While people asked about something you're involved in, you took 5 steps forward. They showed interest and saw your passion. But your answer or talent didn't satisfy them, so now your 7 steps back...to being a nobody. So welcome back.

We've all grown up in a society where you are a nobody until you are a somebody. Somebody, being defined by your talents (instead of your passions). It's taboo to talk about our weaknesses unless we're on a job interview, or filling out a stupid ditto for a class. Very rarely does anybody care about the things you struggle with. But why? Why are we only encouraged to pursue, and be acknowledged for, the things we are talented/gifted in? Why aren't we being pushed to do better in our weak areas, and why don't we acknowledge people's passions?

I grew up with, and still retain, a mind with wild and creative thoughts. I was the amateur artist and the drama ensemble member. I grew up going through school, doing my best to continue following my passions no matter how my school and society made me feel about lacking the talent to be known for them. The world we live in is going to make you feel like you have to give up, because if you're not talented enough at something, or the best, what's the use? I am here to tell you to fight. Do not give up on those passions–no matter what they are. Keep doing what you love, regardless of how good you are at it. You don't need to be the best, and sometimes those who are the "best" at something lack the passion that you and I both have. Without passion, being the best means nothing. So, look at it this way, we're one step ahead of them... even if we do color outside the lines.

From one "nobody," to another,

I am here to tell you that you are somebody.