Hi everyone, my name’s Grace and I’m about to be a relatable teen.
When I saw Haleigh was offering a spot on the blog, I was hella down. Then I realized, that oh right, you actually have to have something to write about. So I started brainstorming what I wanted to talk about. Every time I thought of something, the idea was too personal, at least to me. That’s when I figured that if I was going to write something, and make any kind of difference, it had to be personal.
Growing up I was mostly a happy kid, high energy (no sugar for me!!), and outgoing. I was good at a lot of things and I am really competitive. This gave me a lot of confidence as a child and all of a sudden, as a teenager a ton of that was taken away from me. I would get a ton of comments about being too skinny, having probably the lightest eyebrows you’ve ever seen on a dark haired girl, and being annoying (probably the worst thing ever). My self confidence from grade 8-11 was easily the lowest it’s ever been, but I mean join the club Grace. Why do so many teenagers, especially girls, get hit with this wave of insecurity at this age? I wish I would’ve expressed myself more then. That’s what I wanted to do in this blog.
I have and I’m sure a ton of you as well have struggled with depression and anxiety. To this day I struggle with it, although a lot less. I went through a lot of confusion about what I was put on this earth to do, where I could make a difference. This is obviously still a question I ask myself.
For my last two years of high school I was fully committed to skiing, meaning I went to school maybe once a month during the winter. What was hard for me with that, was planning my future and wondering what I was going to do after high school. I wasn’t taking courses based on university options and that sorta threw me. All my friends were making plans for their lives and I was stuck just trying to graduate; all my focus on skiing. I had little to no social life. I moved 8 hours away without my family and friends for a sport? Seemed like a good idea until I started to get lonely and depressed.
The only time I wasn’t sad and lonely was on ski trips. Unfortunately those were ridiculously mentally and physically draining. It was hard, but who am I to say that? I was getting to do something so many people don’t have the opportunity to do. And for what? I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. During all this time I kept wondering if this was what I was supposed to be doing with my life.
When I quit skiing I felt even more lost. I just let go of one of the only things I was decent at and enjoyed so much. I kept telling myself I had to figure out what I was going to do with my life, and figure it out soon. This obviously made everything worse, but I made it through and I’m here now, maybe a little wiser (and funnier).
I still have no idea what I’m doing with my life, but I don’t mind it so much now. I have realized that I’ll figure it out and that I’m still so young; I’m in no rush! Anybody that’s struggling with their identity and their purpose on this planet, take a step back! Be happy! Enjoy what you do! Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life!
Talk about your feelings, let people know you love them, and take time for yourself. Find something you love, and don’t let it go. And remember that whatever you’re going through, you aren’t alone. Your feelings are valid. Don’t be scared to do something different than what everyone around you is doing.
You do you.
When I saw Haleigh was offering a spot on the blog, I was hella down. Then I realized, that oh right, you actually have to have something to write about. So I started brainstorming what I wanted to talk about. Every time I thought of something, the idea was too personal, at least to me. That’s when I figured that if I was going to write something, and make any kind of difference, it had to be personal.
Growing up I was mostly a happy kid, high energy (no sugar for me!!), and outgoing. I was good at a lot of things and I am really competitive. This gave me a lot of confidence as a child and all of a sudden, as a teenager a ton of that was taken away from me. I would get a ton of comments about being too skinny, having probably the lightest eyebrows you’ve ever seen on a dark haired girl, and being annoying (probably the worst thing ever). My self confidence from grade 8-11 was easily the lowest it’s ever been, but I mean join the club Grace. Why do so many teenagers, especially girls, get hit with this wave of insecurity at this age? I wish I would’ve expressed myself more then. That’s what I wanted to do in this blog.
I have and I’m sure a ton of you as well have struggled with depression and anxiety. To this day I struggle with it, although a lot less. I went through a lot of confusion about what I was put on this earth to do, where I could make a difference. This is obviously still a question I ask myself.
For my last two years of high school I was fully committed to skiing, meaning I went to school maybe once a month during the winter. What was hard for me with that, was planning my future and wondering what I was going to do after high school. I wasn’t taking courses based on university options and that sorta threw me. All my friends were making plans for their lives and I was stuck just trying to graduate; all my focus on skiing. I had little to no social life. I moved 8 hours away without my family and friends for a sport? Seemed like a good idea until I started to get lonely and depressed.
The only time I wasn’t sad and lonely was on ski trips. Unfortunately those were ridiculously mentally and physically draining. It was hard, but who am I to say that? I was getting to do something so many people don’t have the opportunity to do. And for what? I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. During all this time I kept wondering if this was what I was supposed to be doing with my life.
When I quit skiing I felt even more lost. I just let go of one of the only things I was decent at and enjoyed so much. I kept telling myself I had to figure out what I was going to do with my life, and figure it out soon. This obviously made everything worse, but I made it through and I’m here now, maybe a little wiser (and funnier).
I still have no idea what I’m doing with my life, but I don’t mind it so much now. I have realized that I’ll figure it out and that I’m still so young; I’m in no rush! Anybody that’s struggling with their identity and their purpose on this planet, take a step back! Be happy! Enjoy what you do! Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life!
Talk about your feelings, let people know you love them, and take time for yourself. Find something you love, and don’t let it go. And remember that whatever you’re going through, you aren’t alone. Your feelings are valid. Don’t be scared to do something different than what everyone around you is doing.
You do you.
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