This Is Who You Are

     If there's one time in a person's life that can really try a person's self-confidence, I'd say college is in the top three. (Middle and high school being the other two...essentially, the whole decade between 11 and 21). First of all, once you get to college you learn very quickly that just because you were good at whatever it is you're majoring in in high school, that doesn't mean that you'll be the best in your college classes. There will be kids who are ten times as passionate as you, ten times as knowledgeable, and will work ten times as hard, just for the simple joy of making you look bad (don't worry, the teacher's pet attitude may go over well in the classroom, but not so much in the real world). There will be people in your classes who look like they're 26-year-old super models and these people will make you feel like you're still an awkward, helpless eighth grader (don't worry, they'll age poorly and you'll look 25 at 40). There will be people who are involved in half a dozen clubs, activities, and organizations, and they're either president or vice president of all of them (don't worry, they have no free time). There will be people who get up at 5 AM every day and hit the gym (don't worry, you need your beauty sleep). 

     This is all to say that in college, and indeed at every point in your life, there will be people who are smarter, prettier, more talented, more athletic, more motivated, more passionate, more whatever than you. And as long as you insist on being defined by your intelligence, your beauty, your talent, your athleticism, your dedication, or your passion, you will never, ever be enough in your own eyes. The whole world can bow down at your feet and you will still have a gaping hole in your chest because you know that there is someone out there who is better than you at whatever it is you judge your self worth by. The truth is, you were created for something much more than getting As, booking your schedule to overflowing with clubs and activities, and running yourself into the ground to be better than the next person. You were created to do the things that you love doing. You were created to be the person you love being. You were created in love for love. You can search far and wide for fulfillment from any number of places, but until you are doing what you love and being who you love, you will always feel less than full. You are who you are for a reason. You are the exact combination of character traits, life experiences, and circumstances that will change the world for the better. You are loved, and you deserve to love yourself.

     Go ahead, start today.

-SE Wagner