Falling in love with yourself might seem odd and conceited, but it's not. What's more amazing than loving yourself and being able to watch yourself grow and realize how much you're worth?

Sometimes loving yourself isn't easy. Society in todays world tries to tell us every aspect of us need to be perfect. There's no such thing as a perfect person, we all have our flaws and we are all different. In high school and in the beginning of college I had a lot of self esteem issues. Everyone wishes they could change someone about themselves and so did I. I've always hoped for the perfect body, not to have my wild curly hair, and sometimes in high school being a different race than everyone else in my class and family had a huge effect on me. Looking back I wish I wouldn't have straightened my hair to the point to where I had no curls, and I wish I would have been more accepting to my bronzed skin. But, I've grown to realize how amazing it actually is to be so different.

Coming to a college of 40,000 students has changed my outlook on a lot of things. I look out the window of Parks Library and see people of all different colors, shapes and sizes. It helped me realize how to find happiness within myself, and helped me find love for myself that I was lacking for so many years. Looking back, I spent too many nights wishing I looked like the famous models I followed on Instagram and I didn't spend enough time finding the beauty in myself.

Which leads me to my next point: don't let anyone make you feel like you're not worth it. People like that clearly haven't found that love for themselves. The older we get the more we learn about ourselves and how much potential we have. Falling in love with myself was the best decision I've ever made. Granted, it took me a few years, but greatness takes time. Loving myself has made me aware of what my strengths are and how to better myself.

I'm not saying that by loving who I have become has erased my self esteem problems. But, they have given me the motivation to lose weight and to realize that everything that I might be self conscious about, someone out there will fall in love with.

"In order for someone to love you, you must first love yourself." This quote is something I live by everyday. It helps in bettering myself and knowing what I deserve. Waking up and looking in the mirror every morning and loving what I see is something I pray that everyone gets to do someday.

I hope you all realize your self-worth and get to experience loving yourself, no matter how long it takes.