After being in high school for two years already, I have felt constant pressure to do it all. From sports to choir, or band to clubs, I’ve felt pressured to be involved in something. It’s like there is a stigma that if you aren’t in something extra curricular, you are lazy, or antisocial. But my question is, why? Why is it “bad” to not want to participate, to take your own path and engage in different activities?

I’ve never really been one for sports. Although I do enjoy sitting down with the family to watch the Super Bowl or taking a drive to Chicago to watch the Cubs play, I’ve never been one of those girls that plays literally every sport the school offers. In my school, they basically praise everyone that plays a sport. And if you don’t, you're invisible. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but it feels pretty close. That has made me feel ashamed and embarrassed like it’s a bad thing to not do extra curricular things. One of the big reasons that I don’t partake in school activities is because of embarrassment. I’m definitely not one of the skinniest girls in the school but that shouldn't make a difference, right? Wrong. Just in my weight lifting class alone, I have gotten some nasty stares and even comments. And I’m positive I’m not the only girl who has gotten made fun of. It really saddens me that people feel like they can't participate in a sport because they are embarrassed.

I’ve now gotten over that, and I’m okay with not being involved in school activities. I realize that even though I’m not like everyone else, it doesn’t mean that I’m not talented or skilled. It means that I am special in many other ways. It’s okay to be good at other things, it’s okay to enjoy things outside of school because that is what makes you unique.

No matter what you do, do it because you enjoy it, do it because its fun and it makes you happy. Never do something to please other people or to prove that you are someone that you’re not. God never makes mistakes and he created you perfect in His eyes. You were made to do great things and you were born with the skills that you have to serve other people. So go out and use your talents for good knowing that it’s okay to not do it all!