Insecurities Narrative

I went to preschool and always felt like the outcast but now I know I was different in my own little way.I started 1st grade scared out of my mind of what was to come but little did I know I would have a bunch of friends that would always have my back.

Within middle school I struggled with a lot, it was a new experience and in those 3 years I learned a lot that has affected my life in the biggest way. At first I honestly did not care at all what people thought of me but when time went on and I started getting older I started understanding why it was a problem. Throughout middle school I got bullied for my weight and how I dressed, and this was an incident that I kept to myself because I wanted to deal with it and I did not like when my parents would get involved. I got texts from my closest best friend saying bad stuff to me and for some reason I still let her be my friend until I realized that she was just an obstacle that was stopping me from accomplishing my goal. After all that unnecessary drama I got to that age where I wanted to be like others so throughout those yeas I dyed my hair blue, i got pink highlights, magenta extensions and I ended up changing my style just so I would fit in but when I got to eighth grade I realized that trying to be like others was a huge waste of my time. Also, this was a time where I was focused

Overcoming my timidness may not seem like such an important deed, but when I look back, I recognize how much it held me back. The fear of speaking up crippled me and caused me to be unable to speak my mind. The black hole that consumed my life was my own insecurity. I started my first year of high school perfectly content living without a voice, as long as I was not the center of attention, I was at peace. During my junior year, I decided that it was finally time to face my challenge head on. I did the one thing that scared me most, I ran for treasurer for both the senior class and National Honors Society. At the time I made the decision, I knew that an important part of being an officer was speaking in front of my peers and teachers. I made

After being bullied a great deal in middle school, I stepped into freshman year of high school with a lack self-esteem and trust in myself. I didn’t believe I could make top ten percent in my class, I didn’t believe I could pass the Pre-AP classes my parents had signed me up for and, I didn’t believe I could make friends. The most amazing thing about this, was that not only did I prove to myself that I could succeed at everything that I had once doubted myself in, but my experience in regaining my self-esteem completely changed my personality and created the person I am today.

“You are not good enough.” Those are five words; no child or adult ever wants to hear or tell themselves. On the other hand, life will always be filled with occasions like these where we believe life plainly just sucks; where people, including ourselves, will believe we are so worthless, insignificant, and dim-witted that we are incapable of achieving something grand. In fact, no matter how much we deny it, these are the experiences that will always stick with us and affect us in one way, big or small. Yet, the thing many of us fail to discover is that the best opportunities come from these moments where proving we are capable of something is most vital. Thus, I have gone through many obstacles in elementary school that I am proud of because it has carved the successful and fortunate person I am today in school and life.

Being a quiet person, I never said what’s in my mind, also being afraid of asking the wrong thing I always kept to myself. This was definitely a disadvantage for me. But knowing the person who I am I made sure to attend class, take notes, and pay attention

I have always been the person people go to for answers. Since seventh grade I have been in honors classes; I was the only seventh grader in an eighth grade math class. I had never been so nervous walking in to class in my life. My legs were trembling and my hands were shaking. I walked around the room hoping to find a seat not in the back so I do not show my teacher I do not care; but not in the front so my classmates think I am a kiss up. I sat in between two boys, and tried to not let them see how intimidated I actually am by them.

I was not always so outspoken and driven to get good grades. Freshman year I was timid, struggled with my grades, and had no idea what the future looked like. Now, I have found exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life and became much more confident then I was freshman year. Along the way I have even made a decision to switch schools. I have transformed a lot along the way from freshman and sophomore year at Portsmouth High School and finishing off at Rogers High School.

“The Growth Mindset” by Rona Elisa talks about the difference between people with a fixed mindset and a growth mindset and how to overcome from fixed to growth mindset. People with a fixed mindset believe that their basic traits and skills are permanent and that it is a natural talent. Therefore, they do not challenge themselves in order to avoid any failure situations because they want to prove they are smart. Whereas, people with a growth mindset put the effort in learning to improve their basic qualities and skills. So, when it comes to challenging situations people with a fixed mindset either they try to avoid it or blame others, make up excuses, and/ or criticize in order for them to save their self- worth.

In junior high school I was the quiet shy type of person. I would sit in the back of the classroom and not talk to anyone, until a fateful day in my 8th grade

Since pre-school my teachers believed that I was going to make something of myself; that encouragement and admiration for the person who I am made me more confident. I tried out for get lit, a poetry program and made the team in high school, I was in Academic Decathlon, I was in track and field hurdles and I did cross country along with multiple clubs. To say the least, I was involved in everything because I wanted to show my capability and make my parents proud. Moreover, Counselors and teachers made those opportunities assemble due to their encouragement. I was able to explore who I was by joining clubs and learning new concepts through AP and college courses. I excelled in high school and that is all to my teachers and parents who lifted me up to reach my expectation

Once it was as a freshman, just my overstuffed backpack and me experiencing an environment radically different than anything I had been exposed to ever before. Later it was as a junior, frustrated with a lack of self-confidence. I was plagued with social anxiety, paranoid over the smallest issues and mortified by the prospect of being approached by someone in public. It was painful to check out of a convenience store by myself, let alone meet new people or strike up a conversation with strangers. I used to think that this was going to be my life; every social encounter would be like walking on glass. Finally, towards the spring of my junior year, I clawed my way out of that pit, and I realized that the world wasn’t out to get me. I forced myself to get outside of my comfort zone, and I’m incredibly proud of myself for making that leap. And with the encouragement and support from my friends at school, I ultimately learned that hard work and initiative are two of the most important virtues on the path to success. And this all stems from the personal connections I’ve made with my peers at school, with these relationships dictating the way I have matured and developed mentally.

As a young child in elementary school, I was very shy and anxious about everything. As I continued to grow older, I started to grow out of my introverted nature with the help of my friends, teachers, and family. In fact, I started to go in the opposite direction and became more outgoing. This trend continued into middle school as I decided to try to run for student council, thinking that it would help me grow and become more popular. After I won a narrow election and began my work in the council, I realized that it would drastically change my life.

I am proud to speak up and give my input during discussions. This relates to the person I am today. Even though this task was very difficult, I knew this was a necessity. I really wanted to become a leader and powerful communicator. I have grown tremendously, I can do things on my own. I feel confident in what I have to say because it is important. I was able to give a 45 minute presentation of my core competencies. I was also given the opportunity to present in front of the vice principal and visitors from other California schools to see if they want to implement portfolios. This pushes me to break out of the shell and be myself. I love all my flaws as an

I am very shy when it comes down to talking in front of a crowd or walking in front of a crowd of people.All my life I've always been kind of shy when you first meet me, but once you get to know me, you'll forget that I ever was shy. In middle school some people who didn't really know me too well thought of me as shy, and maybe even weird for "not talking." I was judged for it, and I was always aware that I was being judged, even at a younger age. Starting in about 6th grade, I was known as the shy girl who never talked, and I was just so used to people thinking of me as that girl that I actually believed what people were saying. It's hard being shy because people think they can just walk all over you and have it be okay because obviously you're not going to say anything. So all throughout elementary and middle school I was walked over, and judged for no reason. There were other scenarios I can't even talk about, and too many of them, but that's not what this essay is about.When I smile at people, it shows that I'm outgoing, friendly, happy, and a great person. And that's what I want to be known as, right?