Can you recall back to that time in high school? When image and popularity were so important? I can. And maybe this wasn't the case for everyone, and if so, good for you. However, I can say I once cared about this stuff. I cared about if I was "popular" or "known," and though I'm not proud to admit it, and yes I was young and naive, I still feel that it's important for me to acknowledge. It's important to recognize that point in my life, because it allowed me to change.

There's also another reason. Which is that it's important to reinforce this idea to the younger generations so they don't have to grow up thinking that these things matter, because they don't. No one should have to live their lives for the satisfaction of others. What matters is doing the things that make you happy, even if it isn't the norm. Dress how you want to dress, be who you want to be, befriend who you want to befriend. No one in this world is even remotely the same, so why are we all trying so hard to be?

Throughout my years, I've come to a conclusion. That the differences within people resemble something of beauty. I enjoy meeting someone unique, and I enjoy being unique myself. I'd like to think we live in a world where everyone can recognize this, but I know that's not true. Some people will remain pig headed. They will place social climbing as their top priority. They will think having the "right" look is most important. They will think having a "hot" boyfriend or girlfriend is most important. And they will think having "well-known" friends is most important. And yet, I feel sorry for these people.

I feel sorry because they are living a life that is forced, one they feel they have to succumb to. They are not living a life for themselves, but like
I said, for others satisfaction and acceptance. They will never get to live a life that they themselves ideally want. And isn't that the point of life? To embrace it and live a life you love? Or else, if not that, you're simply wasting the life you were given.

I know sometimes we feel pressured by the society we live in to act or be a certain way. Trust me, I've been there. However, I've learned from experience that this way of life will never make you truly happy. At 20-years-old, I'd rather live a life full of many years I myself can look back on and feel nothing but pure pleasure from. I'd like to know I lived for myself. I'd like to know I was a good person, non judgmental and kindhearted. I'd like to know I made decisions off of what I knew was right, not what everyone else thought was. I aspire for a life like this. You all should to.