Society & Beauty

When people look at me all they see is: girl, 12, short, skinny, and average looking. But they never see: girl, 17, smart, funny, sarcastic, caring, and a beautiful person inside. I know the last past sounds cheesy...but it's true... for most people.

I mean, we can't just judge people by their appearances but the sad thing is that we do, judge them. It's in our nature to judge people but we can try to stop that. I, myself, am guilty of judging people by appearances, but I am trying to change that.

In today's society, outward beauty is mattering more and more each day. Some just want to conform to what society calls beauty: flawless face, big boobs, stick-thin, and to be perfectly made up. It's sad to see many women fall for this and spend thousands of dollars on surgeries they don't need; it's also sad to see them conform to this.

It's wrong that magazines, TVs, and possibly every media outlet is endorsing women to conform. They show pictures of stick-thin women, and many women--especially young teens--fall for this; and in order for them to conform, they end up developing eating disorders, or spending money on liposuction. All for what? So you can look like a model on a magazine or so you can get some guy to like you? It's not worth it, at all. Plus, why the hell would you want to look like someone else?

But let's face it--people are sheep. They tend to do whatever the majority of the population is doing, without giving it a second thought. Most people don't even think for themselves; they let other people think for them. Now, I'm not saying that it's wrong--but what's so hard about thinking for yourself? Shouldn't you be your own person? I know it's hard and sometimes people give you crap for being yourself--but why should other people's opinions matter? As long as you're happy, nothing else should matter.

It's hard for a teen, like myself, to be their own person. During the teen years, we sort-of let others mold us (except for the lucky few), because we--unfortunately--care what our friends and peers think of us. Yeah, sure we put up a front and pretend that nothing can touch us, but that's way far from the truth. In reality, we're just lost and trying to fit in.

The media outlet is constantly telling us teen girls that we should be stick-thin, dress in fashion, and be carbon copies of each other--if not, then you're a loser. Even in movies they do this to use. Yeah, they try to show a social outcast, who doesn't fit in, but then *gasp*, they lose weight, get a makeover, and they become popular and date the hottest guy in school. So basically, the moral of the movie is: If you lose weight and get a makeover (i.e. conform), then you'll become a shallow, popular person who'll date the hottest guy in school. Doesn't that sound great? Not!

Basically, what I'm trying to say is to just be yourself. I mean, I know it's cheesy but it's true. Plus, life is short so why would you want to waste half your life trying to look like someone else or be someone else. Next thing you know, you'll be on your death bed and you won't have accomplished anything. So please, for your sake, just be yourself and nobody else.