For my first blog post ever, I, Chanda Hayes, want to make a statement about who I am. When I am asked to tell about myself, I usually answer, “I am eighteen years old and a senior year in high school. My favorite color is purple. I like to listen to music.” But is that who I really am? No, those are just the basics. For a more in depth description, I am timid and quiet, as most would agree. I don’t like to talk in front of big crowds where I am the center of attention. Most importantly, I believe, I am my own person and no one else.
When I was small, I always wished to be like other girls. I always wanted what they had. Just like anyone else, I wanted to be the person who could stand up in front of the class and make the whole class laugh, but I never was and probably never will be due to the plain fact that I am neither hilarious nor confident enough. I wasn’t born with humor and I do not have high self-confidence. I was however born with different qualities. I often catch myself saying that I am not this and I am not that. Then I think to myself, why worry about what I am not when I could be focusing on what great qualities I do have. I gave this a lot thought and it has lead me to be embrace my characteristics and be grateful for them.
The major characteristic that most people would describe me of being is shy. I used to hate being shy and quiet. I wondered why I wasn’t able to speak my mind. I didn’t like that I wasn’t able to talk to anyone about anything. It often led me to want to be like others until the day someone told to cherish my shyness. It was honestly an awakening. My whole life my relatives would mention how quiet I was and it would somehow put me down. Now that I have been told that shyness is a great quality to have, I actually believe it and am able to embrace it. I don’t have to go around yearning to be gregarious and loud. I can just be me. Trust me, I still have times where I wish I wasn’t as shy because my grade had depended on it, but the best I could do was go one step at a time.
As a senior in high school, I may not truly know who I am supposed to be, but I do know who I am right now. I am someone who is shy, kind, and smart. I live to my own morals and believe in what I want to believe. I don’t let others define me and I no longer want to be someone else because they have something better than me. I am who I am and I was put on this earth to be just me, Chanda, and no one else.
Chanda, I got the chills; that was beautiful. Thank you for opening up. I think we all struggle with wanting to be like the other girls, but I think it is wonderful that you were able to look at the things that you did have and not on the things you didn’t have. That is truly a talent. I think you are wonderful. You are tons of fun, smart, and beautiful! You were totally born funny! I’ve heard some of the comments you make, especially last year in chemistry, and you had us laughing. I think you are fantastic, beyond amazing. Your last paragraph was powerful, truly inspirational. I absolutely loved this! Thanks for sharing girlie!
ReplyDeleteChanda Hayes, I love this! It's very well written and since I have known you since elementary it describes you perfectly, and every other girl as they grew up; still. I'm glad I know you and I am super glad to say that being "shy" is not who you fully are. You are very funny and you give really great advice. Like Shayna said, your last paragraph is very powerful! More people need to realize and accept that being "you" is the best "you!" I loved this very much!
ReplyDeleteChanda, this was amazing to read. Getting to know you much more through this has shown me just who you are as a person. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to embrace who you are because we are all different and in so many ways. I enjoyed how you used a subject that many girls go through. These stages define who we are.
ReplyDeleteSitting next to you in class, I get to enjoy the conversations we have and laughs. I believe you are such a strong and outgoing individual in your own way that shows in your inner beauty and it matches your outer beauty as well.
I loved this because it encourages others to believe in themselves and to be who they are cause they are perfect in their own ways. I love this and how you used real life experiences. Thanks for sharing this girl!
Chanda, this was amazing to read. Getting to know you much more through this has shown me just who you are as a person. It is such a beautiful thing to be able to embrace who you are because we are all different and in so many ways. I enjoyed how you used a subject that many girls go through. These stages define who we are.
ReplyDeleteSitting next to you in class, I get to enjoy the conversations we have and laughs. I believe you are such a strong and outgoing individual in your own way that shows in your inner beauty and it matches your outer beauty as well.
I loved this because it encourages others to believe in themselves and to be who they are cause they are perfect in their own ways. I love this and how you used real life experiences. Thanks for sharing this girl!
Chanda, you were always quiet when we were tiny, chizhie kids but I loved it!! To be honest all of our other cousins were wayyyy to loud. You were always the only cousin I loved to hangout with. I remember thinking of you as another one of my sisters. I still think of you that way!! I love your shyness! It is really hard to be put up in front of a crowd. I still cannot do that. It's great to be locked in our shells because that way we know we are safe. But it is also great to crack that pistachio open, so that we can experience what we cannot do. That's the only way we can get over this shyness. I'm still trying to get out of my shell. It is really hard to gain trust in some people at school and it is also reallyyyy hard to present in front of a class. You're amazing! Stay awesome girl!
ReplyDelete