For me, it was middle school when everyone started to change. Our bodies started to take shape, some more than others, and some in all the right places. No matter which shape we started to take on, it wasn't going to be easy. With the comments from other classmates and our self-esteem at an all time low, it didn't take a genius to realize that the next few years were going to be hell.
We would sit in our rooms at night, when we were supposed to be asleep, researching how to get the "perfect" body. Are there foods I can eat to make my boobs bigger? How many meals do I need to skip to lose 15 pounds? Why can't I be like her? I want to look like her. These thoughts and questions take over our 13-year-old minds, and make sure to follow us around in our everyday lives. You head to school the next morning with hopes that nobody will notice you stuffed your shirt before leaving the house. And you cross your fingers and pray that you won't get too lightheaded and pass out from not eating at all the night before and this morning. This is not OK. This is why we girls need to stick together.
Girls know how it feels to be alone; we know how harsh the world can be. So having this knowledge, why do we still continue to tear down other girls? Growing up sucks, straight up. You discover new things about yourself, physically and emotionally, and it is not easy. It really doesn't help the case when others continue to put you down. Girls, young and old, should really start standing up for each other. Boys suck, and society isn't any better. Help a girl out; if you see her struggling, give her a hand. I promise it means the world to her.
If you have a sister, consider yourself lucky; she will never let anyone go unpunished if they wrong you. But also check up on her every once in a while, since females tend to do this thing where we put up these walls and don't let anyone know that we are hurting. Sometimes, for us, faking happiness is easier than breaking down. Just let us know you're there if we need to break down, and be our shoulder to cry on. We aren't actually as tough as we seem, just really good at masking it.
It's a harsh world out there, middle school sucks, but you'll have your friends. It doesn't get much better when your friend group starts to shrink and the world becomes bitter. Although it's tough, don't be too anxious to grow up; that's where you discover yourself. We all have our own problems, and they wouldn't be so difficult to overcome if we stuck together as "sisters," if you will. We all have our demons, but please don't become your own.
