She is a busy college student. She gets up, puts on her makeup, does her hair. She packs her things and heads off to a full day of classes, barely leaving room between her studies to grab a quick bite to eat. She races to her job and works her shift with no complaints, hustling through each task like the perfectionist she is. After a long day, she finally makes it home. Exhausted, she gets back to studying and working on homework. This is her life. A persisting rat-race, day in and day out. She refuses to give herself a break, or even a few hours to lay and do nothing. Her plate is metaphorically full, but physically empty; another meal she has forgotten to eat. However, if you ask her about her research paper, thesis essay, or four projects, her answer is 'done, done, and working on it.' On top of spending 22 hours in class alone, she works 30+ hours a week because she really needs the money.
She runs herself dry and all her friends ask her why she takes on so many projects, hours at work, and a full class schedule when most of her colleagues have no need for a job and many are barely going to school full time. The truth is, she's not just doing these things to put on her resume. The truth is, she does all of these things to justify her existence.
What she doesn't want you to know, through her seemingly careless smile, is that most days she wakes up with no motivation or self-confidence to make it through her 12-plus hour day on campus and, despite the friends she has, her struggles are still her own and she is left alone to deal with them. She has little faith in herself and her abilities, though everyone tells her she is more than she makes herself out to be. She struggles with her body and has since she was a kid, eating gingerly and counting calories down to a T. Despite her lack of time, sleep, and energy, she still makes it to the gym, desperately trying to improve herself in the few ways she knows how. She doesn't understand how strong she is to be able to carry on the way she does, still seeming radiant to whomever she meets.
She takes the maximum amount of credit hours per semester, if not more. She's working toward a double major with an added minor, trying to graduate a semester early. She strives for Dean's List, but sometimes that isn't even good enough. She stresses about school and worries about her future, full of self-doubt; "who would hire me? I'm not good enough." She doesn't realize how qualified she is and her hard work is going to pay off.
She overworks herself, doing whatever she can to save money. She worries about making sure her bills are paid and her gas tank is full. She strives to be comfortable; to be able to buy herself nice things, but she reserves her funds for the absolute necessities. Instead, she wears worn down shoes and clothes that don't fit. She doesn't see her worth and this starts the vicious cycle over again.
But still, she wakes up every morning. She begrudgingly starts her long day, but finds it in herself to derive happiness from making people smile. She doesn't know it, but she's changing the world for the better with all her efforts. Her work does not go unrecognized. Her heart is full and she tries to spread love and kindness wherever she goes. She's far from perfect, but she is more than good enough. She is still learning to accept herself, as we all are.
She is a friend, she is a sister, she is a girlfriend or wife, she is a daughter, she is a mother, she is you.
No matter how strongly she disagrees, she is strong, she is beautiful, she is independent, and she is worthy of so much.
She deserves all the happiness the world can offer.
But, of course, happiness is subjective.
