A new perspective...

For years I have struggled with my self image. Constantly being bullied and put down by others around me. I have always felt insecure about the way I look, the way I dress, how I act and more importantly who I truly am.

Beginning in middle school, I was the new girl with no friends and no reason for anyone to be my friend. Thats where it all started, and where I began my confidence issues. Up until then I never had an issue with who I was as a person, or who I was becoming, but then again who would at 11 years old?

For years I have tried to figure out who I was. Struggling with what I wanted to do with my life and how I was going to get there. I got lucky and found a place in 7th grade that I knew would change my life. That place was Anderson University. For the next 5 years I worked hard and made my dreams come true. My senior year of high school I was accepted to my dream school and the next 4 years were going to be amazing...or so I thought.

Anderson University has always been my dream school and the fact that I'm graduating in just 5 short months is killing me inside. I have loved every minute here at AU and it has truly made me who I am today. If it weren't for the experiences I've had or the friends that I have made because of Anderson University I would be a completely different person.

Up until this year I have still struggled with my self image. I never thought I was good enough for anyone and I always let my past mistakes dictate who I was.

This past year, everything has changed. I am more confident in myself. I stand up for myself. I believe, and I mean truly believe, that I am a beautiful person. I now know that my past mistakes do not dictate who I am, they only made me who I am but not who I want to be. I am constantly changing and growing and becoming a better person each day.

This year I surrounded myself with great people. I got back into Student Government. I won Senior Class President. I took a chance and went on the SGA retreat and forced myself out of my comfort zone. I made friends with people I never would have met or spent time with beforehand. I started SGA dinners every week before our meeting. I got an internship that I love. I became an RA on campus. I get to spend every day living next door to one of my best friends. But most importantly...I'm finally happy. 

Two years ago I never thought I would be where I am today. I am slowly becoming the woman I want to be only because of the changes I have made in my life. I have gotten rid of toxic people in my life and have surrounded myself with friends that make me want to be a better person. I have friends that I genuinely want to spend time with and get to know more in my life.

There are so many blessings that I have received this year, more importantly since August, and they are blessings I could never trade. I am happy with my life, with my goals, with my dreams, and with who I am. Every day I thank God for my new friendships, my constant blessings, and my future blessings. My life verse has never meant more to me than it does right now and that I'm thankful for.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11.


Here's to the rest of Senior year, I hope it will be as great as first semester has been.


But in case you've been hiding under a rock, here's some of the people that have changed my life this year...

Try believing in yourself, it works miracles. 

Lauren.