Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Politics

A Letter To My Future Daughter

I will not let you be held down.

Bronwen Espen

Nov 15, 2016

Denison University

clipartbest

To my future daughter,

I wish the world for you and I will fight to give you the world. This I can promise.

But I’m afraid.

I’m afraid that you will be born into a world where women don’t matter…

That you will have to dream twice as hard to make it half as far as the man sitting next to you…

That you will not be able to govern your own body…

That you will be shamed for embracing sexual expression and sexual freedom…

That you might have to hide who you love because it’s different…

That your self-esteem will suffer because society told you it should…

That you might be harmed and never receive justice…

That you will be harmed for using your voice…

That you will be harmed for not using your voice…

That you will always be defending yourself…

That you will feel as tired as I feel today.

I hope you never feel defeated, but if you do, I will be there. I will pick you up and hold you high. And I will tell you that you are strong…

That you are intelligent…

That you are brave…

That you are beautiful…

That you are loved…

That you are believed….

That you are valid…

That you are worthy…

That you are important…

That you are heard…

That you are supported…

That you are able…

That you are perfect…

That you matter.

That you will always matter, even when there are forces telling you that you do not. Forces that feel like waves, crashing over your body and pulling you down. I will not let you be held down.

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

Ball State University

2455

Photo by Courtney Hedger on Unsplash

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less

best friend

Health and Wellness

The 15 Stages Of Being Sick In College

It sucks, but you’ll make it through

York College of Pennsylvania

1653

StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less

sick in college

Lifestyle

17 Things You Can Only Relate To If You Grew Up With Strict Parents

Sleepovers are not a thing. They're just not.

Millennials of the Pacific Northwest

2868

Janko Ferlic

Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less

strict parents

Lifestyle

Living Away From Home, As Described By 'Friends'

For better or for worse

Loyola University Chicago

3259

tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

friends

Recommended for you

A Letter To My Future Daughter

I will not let you be held down.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Here are just a few of those things.

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

3. Thank you for teaching me what real love feels like.

4. Thank you for always making sure I'm safe.

5. Thank you for going through things with me.

6. Thank you for teaching me to take care of myself.

7. Thank you for going out of your way to make me feel supported.

8. Thank you for always being there to back me up, even when you know I'm wrong.

9. Thank you for constantly pushing me to live up to my potential.

10. Lastly, thank you for making such a huge impact on my life.

It sucks, but you’ll make it through

1. Please just be seasonal allergies

2. I must not have gotten enough sleep last night

3. I’ll just take a little nap

4. Oh no, I have so much due tomorrow!

5. I’m fine, I’ll just sleep it off

6. Do I have to be responsible today?

7. Ugh no, I can’t actually be sick

8. Alright, I’ll take some medicine and I’ll be fine

9. This is the worst day of my life

10. Mom?

11. She was right (like always)

12. Too bad you're busy and can’t take the day off tomorrow

13. You think about taking the day off, but realize you have like three tests

14. You think you're actually going to be sick forever

15. Finally, you're better!

Sleepovers are not a thing. They're just not.

1. You only ask things once.

2. Seriously, you only ask once.

3. When you do muster up the courage to ask your parents for something, you creep around and wait until they’re in a good mood.

4. Before you get that final yes, you have to go through an interview.

5. If you ever got “the eye,” you knew you were screwed.

6. You were always the first to leave your group of friends when hanging out.

7. If you say you will be home at a certain time, you better be home at that time.

8. Seeing a missed call from your parents sends fear and horror through your veins.

9. If relatives are coming over to the house, your room better be clean.

10. You are careful about what jokes you share with your parents.

11. "You’re not an adult until you turn 18! You can do whatever you want then!"

12. If plans change while you’re out, you better text or call.

13. Don’t talk back. Ever.

14. When you’re called by your full name, you’re in deep trouble.

15. Don’t make them call your name twice.

16. Sleepovers are not a thing.

17. Despite all of these things, you know your parents love you.

For better or for worse

1. Pets

2. Mornings

3. Mistakes

4. Cooking for yourself

5. Hosting

6. Taking care of yourself

7. Holidays

8. Roommates

9. Keeping focused and getting stuff done

10. Cleaning

11. Social life

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of Politics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter