Don't change who you are.

One of my friends also has a blog (she was an inspiration in me getting one) and every time she updates her blog I read it instantly. Today she wrote about something that really made me think. She wrote about bullying. My friend Jen was bullied really bad in high school. Reading her blog I remembered everything about high school. I remembered the things that would happen to her and I also remembered the things that happened to me. Even though what happened to me is no where near as bad as what happened to Jen, I still understand how badly she felt.

When I was in high school I got bullied for the way I looked and the people I hung out with, for the way I dressed and for the way I acted. I used to sing all day and all night. I used to wear whatever I wanted even though it wasn't always brand name clothes. I was super bubbly and loud and outgoing. I still am all these things. However for a time in school I was told by many people that I sounded like a dying horse so I made it a point to not sing anymore. They told me that I dressed like a Miley Cyrus wannabe so I started wearing simple outfits instead of extravagant ones. They told me I was loud and annoying so I became quiet and bearable. They would tell me I was fat and I went through a period of starving myself, taking pills, and throwing up. It wasn't until I realized the I shouldn't give a hoot about what people think about me. And the person who helped me realize that was my friend Jen.

Jen and I are actually really alike. But we have one major difference, She isn't afraid to always fight for what she wants, she isn't afraid to follow her dreams. I on the other hand am hesitant to jump into things. I admire Jen for everything she does. Even though she was the subject of horrible bullying she still persevered and is one of the most strong, amazing, and beautiful people i know. If it wasn't for her I can honestly say I would probably still be the quiet girl I made myself be.

Thanks to Jen I started to be myself again. I started to dress up for school. I started to sing all day even though I annoyed people to death.Ii started to talk loudly and annoyingly. And I even started to laugh super loud again because that's who I was and I didn't care if anyone laughed at me anymore.

After a while people just got used to it and started complimenting me on my outfits and hair and makeup and my voice instead of bashing me. To this day I still don't care what people think. I wore a hot pink jacket to the black and white ball and even though i got stared at like crazy I didn't care because I love pink! I cut my bangs in high school and I got them straight across my face when everyone had the side swept bangs and everyone thought I was weird and emo  but i loved them. I walked down the halls of high school and college with my high school musical bag and my Jonas brothers folders and my Hannah Montana pencils and i would get picked on but I didn't care! I used to quote harry potter and Twilight and Phantom of the opera and get looked at weird but I didn't care. I did and still love all those things.

Jen showed me that to be someone who gets what they want they have to do what they want and not care what anyone thinks. So I dedicate this blog to you Jen. You have helped me in so many ways and you don't even know it. I will never be able to repay you. Thank You for showing me that I could be me without me caring about what anyone thinks. You are an amazing person and I really look up to you.

Don't ever change Jen. You are strong. You made it through four years of hell and you lived. I truly believe you can make it through anything.