This I Believe

I believe in multiple things, but the most important thing to me is to be yourself. You shouldn’t be anyone you’re not just to please others.

When I was younger, I was always told not to be something just because everyone else was. Throughout my life, I would sometimes want to do and wear the same things as others just because it was the ‘cool’ thing to do at the time. Eventually, I realized that it’s important to be different and to be yourself. Also, even though you and your friends aren’t exactly the same, it’s okay because you should have a variety of friends. You shouldn’t be someone you’re not just because your friends are. Be yourself because if they’re true friends, they’ll love you no matter what.

My mom was probably the person who instilled this belief into me the most. Whenever I would say I want something either ridiculous just because my friends had it or not so ridiculous, she would ask me, “If they were to jump off a bridge, would you do it too?” Whenever she said this, I would understand that it’s another way of saying be yourself and don’t follow others, you should just be unique. I’ve grown to understand that I should be myself, but I still sometimes want to do things just because others are doing it, like when I was younger. Even though I’ve gotten older, it doesn’t stop my mom from saying the same thing to me that she would say when I was seven. My mom has taught me a very valuable lesson in life, to just be yourself.

During my life, there wasn’t any specific time that stands out to me that my belief were tested to its limits. Of course there were times when I was younger that small things would happen and I had to remember that I should stand out in the crowd in my own special way. Other then that, there was never a time where my belief was badly shaken and I hope there is never going to be one. If I ever think that I should be something other than being myself, I hope I will be able to get past it easily without many problems.

Being yourself and not letting other things get in the way of it is very important to me. Just because others might think you’re better one way, you shouldn’t always listen to them. You should do what you think is right no matter what anyone else thinks.