I remember the cruelty that people used to display in grade school towards those who were unique or different. Even now, those who try to branch out in a unique way are immediately shot down by those around them. The need for conformity in our present society has silenced powerful voices, turned a blind eye to beautiful displays of creativity, and discouraged the next generation from experimenting with things that have the ability to change the world.

Your unique qualities are what make you who you are and it’s time to stop suppressing them. Whether it is a talent, hobby, religion, belief that guides you through life, or an opinion that is unconventional, you owe it to yourself to explore the attributes that make you special. Talk openly about your nationality and listen to songs in your native language without feeling conscious of your surroundings. Play the song you wrote in front of people, and share your poetry with an audience that will relate to your thoughts more than you think. The days of being silenced are long gone; it is time to leave your mark on the world. Don’t be ashamed of the things that set you apart from others, because variability is what makes the world an interesting place. You owe it to yourself to appreciate your unique traits of skills, even if no one else does. I heard once, “Shame is the little sister of self importance.” The worlds of others do not revolve around you, but your own does! Do the things that make you happy and stop basing your life choices on other people.

The old me used to be so tightly wound up all the time; I lived my life doing things to please others rather than worrying about myself. Pretending to be interested in things I did not care about, suppressing my urges to share my own strange interests with my friends… these were things that plagued my day-to-day life until one day, I decided that the only way to appreciate my life was to live it in a way that made me happy. I am confident enough to sing aloud without caring about other people, I share my thoughts on Odyssey on a continuous basis, I actively participate in my fandoms with others who share the same obsessions as I do, and I listen to Bollywood songs without worrying if anyone can hear the faint noise through my headphones.

I do the things that make me happy, and it’s time for you to do the same.