If you're on TikTok as much as I am, you know that there has been a recent trend of insecure teenagers comparing themselves to Madison Beer, Charli D'Amelio, and other widely considered beautiful and attractive people. I would love to say "be confident" and automatically convince these insecure teenagers to realize that everyone was made beautifully, even if they don't look exactly like these famous creators. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. So instead of trying to convince you to forget your insecurities and just become confident, I want to share a story.

Most high schools, well at least my high school, are filled with judgemental, hypercritical people, which made being confident extremely difficult. Luckily, compared to a lot of people, I am a fairly confident person, happy with who I am. However, a lot of my friends don't feel that way about themselves. I want more than anything to share my confidence. On one unsuspecting day, I discovered that it is possible.

I have these pair of jeans. They're unique, one leg dark blue, the other light blue. I wear them often, but I never realized their effect until one day in English class my senior year.

One beautiful morning, my friend walks into our first-hour English class wearing a stylish pair of jeans, one leg dark blue, the other light blue. Immediately I compliment her on her cute jeans, that very closely resemble mine.

Her response is something that has stayed with me and makes me smile every time I think about it. She said, "thank you, I've had them for a while, but after I saw you wear yours I finally gained the confidence to wear mine."

At that moment, I had a realization. Being confident can help others be confident. So, if you often feel insecure or self-conscious, try acting confident. Fake it till you make it. If not for you, then for those around you.