S.G. Writes
“She’s so different from us.”
“Why is she doing that? weird.”
“Why does she look like that?”
Words that I have always heard ever since. As a child, hearing these phrases tainted my whole belief system. It made me feel as if I was some sort of invisible, which led to me not being able to know myself—a stranger to my own.
When I entered my teenage years, I started copying other people to join the mainstream. Wearing clothes I am uncomfortable with but are trending? Wore them. Doing things that are normal for some teenagers but I find displeasing? Still did them. Did it give me a sense of belongingness? Absolutely yes. But I realised something midway—I was acting as a shadow of another person to gain people’s approval. At that certain moment, I knew that I should stop looking for people’s validation towards me, which would only lead me to lose myself.
At first, it made me feel overwhelmed because I was entering a phase of myself to which I was not familiar with. I didn’t know where to start—I don’t even know what my favourite colour is. Funny, right? But as I moved and progressed in knowing my authentic self, It opened a new world for me to which I really do belong. This time, not for other people, but for me. I may not be as graceful as her or as manly and clever as him—but I am me, and that alone is more than enough.
Being different is not something to be ashamed of. It is normal and inescapable. Differences are what make us “us”, and I believe that they are the most beautiful thing that’s been created. It just proves that you are not turning into a replicated version of another person. You like doing things that are weird for your classmates? You should continue liking them. Your physical appearance is different from the norm? Embrace it. You love the colour that other people perceive as boring or too feminine for a guy, and vice versa? Let that colour be your favourite among any other different shades! As long as you know that you’re not hurting other people, then these things and differences must be flaunted and celebrated. My college professor once said: “Differences in your race, age, gender, and the likes must not hinder us, people, from accepting each other.” Instead, let us use these dissimilarities to learn further about the differences that we have, and we must accept them wholly to create a world full of different colours, which when put together creates a beautiful gem of art—
—an art of ravishing peculiarity.
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S.G. Writes is a first-year college student from the Philippines who loves to write, inspire, and advocate for people. She is an aspiring broadcaster, as she has the burning passion to connect with people, whether it be through writing or public speaking. Her pursuit is to serve the mass in the future.
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