It took me awhile to find women who gave me a reason to be confident. I have always had people tear me down, make me feel insecure or point out a single flaw and have me be stuck on that one thing for months. I came to college, and things changed.

Obviously, I have a really small group of women who have always been there for me and have built me into the woman I am today. Obviously, there are women on this campus who it seems' one goal is to bring down other women. Whatever side of the spectrum you lie, just know you built me up. Not every woman will see you as competition or treat you as such.

My mother has always been the most influential woman in my life. Not every girl can say that and I wish they could. I tell people stories about my mom and I and they always tell me how lucky I am, and I know I am. This woman has given me the most strength anyone could possibly every give me. From break ups, to make ups, from gossip to heart-to-hearts, from the perspective of the entire world to a grain of sand, she has given me the greatest advice, has taught me the greatest lessons, and has never, EVER left my side.

Not everyone can grow up with the amount of family members I have grown up with; i'm truly blessed. I have a cousin who is four months older than I am and to see her struggle, I cannot help but feel the struggle for her as well. I have some truly gorgeous cousins, who have some amazing women as moms. I also have two amazing grandmas (one who I call abuela) who put their family over the top. I have never seen so much dedication and hard-work within two people in my entire life. They have all taught me so much about the perception of beauty, about what attitude to have towards life, and about the struggle to succeed.

I didn't click with many women in high school. Which not only says something about me, but the women I tried to surround myself with as well. It was always a competition and that's never how it should feel. There are 2 women I was close with in high school (actually since the 3rd grade) that I am still close with today and they have been amazing influences. Their make up, fashion senses, personalities and charisma are always perfect. They have given me such hope for the women of my generation and the impact we can make on each other.

It really changes your perspective on life when women compliment you. Compliment meaning not only feeding you positive vibes, but also meaning a good addition to your personality and character as well. The women I live on the same floor with have been absolutely amazing. Not once have I ever felt torn down, nor have I wanted to tear them down. They are truly stunning human beings. It has always been a "what's mine is yours" policy between these women and I, and I could never string words into a sentence to amount to enough gratitude for these women.

I have been the type of person who cannot go a day without complimenting someone. Whether that be character, clothing, talent/ability or just saying I appreciate them as a person, I will say it. The reaction women have when another woman compliments them on anything, is such a beautiful thing. We are seen as the type to hate every other woman on the planet and that is not who I am, or who I would like to surround myself with. Women strangers, no matter their age, are some of my favorite people. A compliment goes a long way.

Someone told me they never felt they had a single woman's support in anything she had done. I looked at her and it felt like a knife had just been jabbed into my body. Not because I had felt that she didn't know she had my support, but because in that moment I realized just how phenomenally lucky I am to have such tremendous aunts, cousins, friends, educators, encounters with strangers, and such an amazing mom. In that moment, I wished she could feel what I feel going through life with such a strong support system of women. I truly believe she has that now and I'm proud of how far she has come, and how far she pushed me.

I had an educator in my life the majority of my high school career that influenced me greatly. I never once thought any other educator would be like her in my entire lifetime, yet I have managed to find another. I have a professor this semester who maybe isn't as charismatic and maybe isn't a favorite amongst campus or even the class, yet I adore her. She has made me feel safe, secure and welcomed, something I have not felt very many times on campus.

Ultimately, it took me 18 years, almost 19, to realize how blessed I am with the women in my life, the women I have crossed paths with for a moment and those who were once active in my life at one point. Eighteen years may seem like a long time to realize something with that much significance, but it could have taken longer.

Thank you to all the women who have been influential, positive and always beautiful.