The first thing that you’ll probably notice about me the minute that we meet is that I’m wearing makeup. A LOT of makeup. I absolutely got up that morning and did the whole nine: foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush, highlighter, brows, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick.

That’s just what I do in the morning.

I wake up early, put on some bops (most likely the Jonas Brothers) and sufficiently beat my face to the gods until I need to leave for the day. However, while I’m proud of my ability to do a perfect cut crease, I find myself constantly discouraged by people around me who think that I wear makeup because I’m insecure or vain or because I’m trying to draw attention to myself.

For me, makeup is therapeutic. Having a morning routine to go through every single day helps me feel more grounded in the crazy world that is college. Sometimes just having a face full of makeup on makes me feel like I have a slightly better grip on my life. Getting to have that time to be creative in the morning also gets me excited for a day that is most likely going to be mundane with sitting in classes and doing schoolwork.

Lately, there are a lot of anti-makeup campaigns going around on the internet. It calls for women to love themselves for who they are and embrace their natural beauty. I stand by that wholeheartedly.

I believe that your best look is the one that you feel the most confident in and for me, it me rocking a bold lip and some great mascara.

I don’t wear a mask of makeup because I’m insecure; I wear it because I want my face to tell everyone that I see a little something about myself. It says that I’m creative and passionate and not afraid to stand out in the crowd and that’s OK.

Oftentimes in television and film, the girl wearing the most makeup is stereotyped as the flirt or the vain girl. Personally, I could not find that further from the truth. I’m not going out and dropping $50 on a new Anastasia Beverly Hills palette because I want some guy to notice me. I’m not expecting a boy that I’m interested in getting to know to approach me because I’m rocking the latest Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip.

I do these things for myself, but that doesn't make me vain or obsessed with my looks. I’m taking time out of my crazy day to focus on something that I truly enjoy, the same way someone would take four hours on a Sunday to watch a football game or someone would spend hours making a short film because that’s what they’re passionate about.

If you’re a girl who loves makeup like me, wear it proudly. You have found something that you’re truly passionate about. It takes years for some people to find their passion, so be glad that you have found yours. Chin up and keep on highlighting to the gods.