In math class, most of us often hear that there is always more than one way to do a problem, because ultimately, you will get the same answer. Although I hate math, I love logic. We were all created for the same purpose, to contribute something to the world. Just like in math, life has many obstacles, strategies, formulas, setbacks and multiple solutions. Throughout your entire life, one lesson should ring true: always be yourself.

What does being yourself actually mean, one may ask? Today, social media, television and other common mediums influence youth, confidence and self-esteem making them distant factors in the equation of life. Being constantly compared to supermodels, musicians and actors on social media and real life must be difficult. Not to mention, having to compete for “likes” and “friends” on sites. Personally, I’m a private person and prefer not to have social media accounts, but daily, I face the pressure of upholding a certain appearance in college.

Before high school, I rarely wore makeup. Around my 16th birthday, I will admit to scouring YouTube channels for fashion, hair and makeup tips. My appearance changed and I felt better about myself. But, I don’t believe that it was solely based on makeup. I became a more outgoing person. I joined more clubs and came out of my shell. 

People who wear makeup are often criticized for being stuck up and self-centered. That’s just not true. Makeup is only used to enhance the beauty that is already there, and yes, everyone is beautiful. 

I know this sounds like a cheesy cliché, but true beauty is on the inside. It should matter how you feel about yourself the most. Being a good person, who has goals and who loves themself should always be a top priority. Someone’s always going to disagree with who you are as a person and the decisions that you have made. But, who died and made them king or queen? Burlesque dancer and model Dita Von Teese once said, “You could be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still gonna be somebody who hates peaches.” 

We all stereotype others. It is human nature for people to see someone and judge them without any indication of who that person truly is. But society’s standards are too high. It seems like in college, you not only have to be smart, but pretty. Girls can be tough and smart, but not so much, that it challenges the power of the male species. And there are a slew of girls here to be compared to. And popularity, forget about it. If you thought that climbing the social ladder in high school was difficult, in college you’d have better luck climbing Mount Everest.

Ultimately, no amount of foundation, clothing, or any other physical change will ever change who you are internally. People should change and grow, that’s what life is for. But, the changes should be healthy and worthwhile. Be open minded about people regardless of their sexuality, race, gender, appearance and background. No one has any right to change who you are but the person staring back in the mirror at you. Polonius said it best in “Hamlet,” “To thine own self be true.”