JUST ME

Emily had always been different from her peers. Even though she was pretty, with long blonde hair and big blue eyes, people often treated her differently. They expected things from her that they didn't expect from other girls. Emily had heard plenty of negative things about herself and it made her feel hopeless. She had always been interested in fashion, but her peers didn't accept her choices. They would go on and on about the latest trends, seeing nothing but the latest styles, and dismissing anyone who didn't wear them. Emily felt like she had no space to create her own style. She started to feel pressured by her peers at school. They would spend hours in the bathroom, trying to perfect their makeup, and then they would show off their new outfits to everyone else. Emily felt like they were trying to consume her by showing off their own skills. The worst part of it was the peer pressure. Emily had always been interested in reading, but her peers didn't want to talk to her about it. They saw reading as a waste of time, and preferred to spend their time chatting and gossiping. Emily felt like she was alone in her passion. One day, Emily's father took her to a very fancy store. He wanted her to try on some new clothes. Emily was excited, but she felt like her father was trying to impress others more than loving her. She tried on a few dresses, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of pressure. Finally, Emily tried on a beautiful green dress. It fit her perfectly, and it made her feel like a princess. She was amazed by the way it flattered her figure. She felt like she could take on the world with that dress on. She felt ready to stand up to her peers and be herself. That was when Emily realized that she didn't have to measure herself against everyone else. She could pick and choose the things that made her feel confident, and reject everything else. She could be herself, and that was all that mattered. From that day on, Emily started to wear her favorite dresses more often. She went to more fancy stores and picked out some accessories to match. She even started to read more. Her peers saw her change, and were surprised by the way it made them feel. They didn't realize that they had been trying to consume her all along. Emily's confidence grew, and she became a stronger person. She didn't care about what other people thought of her anymore. She was happy with herself and all that she had achieved. Years later, Emily looked back on that day with fondness. She had faced difficulty and peer pressure, but she had overcome it. She had found her own style, and it had changed her life. She realized that all that mattered was being true to herself.