Throughout life you will have many role models or people you aspire to be like, which is great, but you have to remember one thing, you have to remember to be yourself. In life when you are facing new obstacles whether it’s meeting new people, working at a new job, or starting a new sport, you are always told to be yourself. Since people hear this advice I think many times we forget just how important it is.

Social media today has made it very easy to be envious of others. Whether someone is posting about their bikini perfect body, or the newest designer handbag they got, it is hard to not want a similar lifestyle, or similar things. When we start to think others have it better than us and forget that we have good things in life too we start to view our self as negative, and something that needs worked on. While everyone can use a little tune up now and again, you don’t need to go changing your desired career because you want to make more money, or changing your hair color because you think that blondes get more likes on Instagram. There are millions of people in this world, just because you don’t think the few hundred people you know don’t understand your true self doesn’t mean someone in the world won’t.

I have been in college for two years now. I can honestly say I love college, a lot. But it’s also a very trying time because you can easily get lost in all the opportunities or activities that follow the college life. You are more independent and for once you can make decisions that directly affect you, and you don’t necessarily have to ask mom or dad if it’s okay. When you are given the freedom to make choices for yourself in life make sure you are making them because they make you happy, not because it’s what all the cool kids are doing, or it seems like that’s what you have to do to fit in. It’s not, and trust me when I say there is someone out there that will understand you, and relate to you. Don’t morph and change yourself because you don’t like you, or because you think that other people won’t like you. It’s a hard motto to live by but my mom always says you can take it or leave it but this is me. Since I’ve been in college I have really learned the importance of being able to tell someone no, or disagreeing with someone because that’s not what I agree with. Now I’m not saying don’t be nice, or don’t be accommodating, but there is a difference between selling yourself, and losing what you once held so dear, and just being a nice human.

Just remember: there are a lot of great people in this world, but there is also you, and you are pretty great, too.