Everyone’s finally home for the summer and we’re all thrilled, but I know I’m not the only one who's dreading summer. I mean, I love sipping drinks on the beach as much as the next girl, but I’m not quite ready for it yet. I’ll rephrase that: my body isn’t quite ready yet.

Let me tell you that the freshman 15 is real…and the sophomore 15, and the junior 15, and maybe you’ll get it all down by senior year, but probably not. Then, by the time May rolls around, your beer gut is in full swing and you realize you do not look the same in your bikini as you did last summer.

This time around, though, I learned a little secret. There’s a quick trick to getting your ideal summer bod, but it can be harder than any spin class or boot camp you may have tried in the past.

Here it is: Love yourself!

Society has set these standards for women that are unreachable for most. You see Kendall Jenner on the cover of magazines and think, “wow, she’s perfect,” but what is it that makes her perfect? I’ll tell you. She’s perfect because society and the media say she is. Nowadays, everyone’s going on these bizarre diets and wearing corsets under their clothes to make themselves appear skinnier when they’re already perfect just the way they are.

I know it’s easy to say that you’re confident and that you’re content with how you look, but saying it is different than actually believing it. It has taken me years to be confident and happy with who I am, and I still can’t say that there aren’t things I wouldn’t change.

What I did learn, though, is that life is so much better when you are happy with yourself. Sure, I may have gained a few pounds this year, and yes, I will probably have to buy some new bathing suits, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to flaunt what I got at the beach in a few weeks.

There’s nothing wrong with having curves despite what society’s standards are. There’s also nothing wrong with loving your body and being comfortable in your own skin, no matter what it looks like. People come in all different shapes and sizes, and there’s nothing we can do to control that. So why must the media create this certain “standard” for women? We are all beautiful just the way we are.

So, go ahead and order that side of french fries instead of the salad next time you go out to eat because you shouldn’t have to change your body to fit the mold society has created for us. Next time you look in the mirror, take a good look at yourself and remember you are perfect just the way you are!