“Look to your left. And what do you see. Now look to your right. Now look all around you. I see beauty. What about you?” – Brittany Williams ’11 bodies. I was different. I was “More.” “Extra…” “Developed…” “Plus.” I was uncomfortable with who I was. Ha. I remember not wanting to lay on the floor in religion class when watching a movie, because I felt my butt would block the kid behind me. It’s kinda funny when I look back on it now, but back then, it hurt because all I ever wanted was to be like the girl in the music video or the models on the cover of magazines. But…I want to ask you again… What is beauty?... Because sometimes I don’t know. I think about this all the time. Who’s to say the tall girl with long blond hair is prettier than the short girl with brown hair? Who’s to say the captain of the boys’ lacrosse team is more handsome than the president of the chess club? And if so, what makes them more attractive? I can pinpoint the very day I realized beauty cannot be defined. Sophomore year, my advisement participated in the Special Olympics during formation days. I met a 9-year-old African American girl named Sophia. When I saw her, we clicked. I was addicted to her. I wanted to make her happy because I thought she was miserable. I imagined myself in her shoes and wondered how different my life would be. How I would
be faced with so many challenges that the average person could accomplish with ease, such as simply kicking a ball or using my words to explain a certain feeling. Sophia showed me many things in life that I would never have learned without her. Sophia was autistic, but it was something about her, something so inspirational that it made me forget about her disability and look at her like an extraordinary human being. Her spirit and enthusiasm grew on everyone around her. It was almost like she cast a spell on us. She had so much energy but lacked in physical ability. She carried herself with such poise but needed someone to help her walk. She had a great and inspiring voice, but she could barely speak. She could reach to the sky and touch a star, but was only about five feet tall. Everything about her was beautiful. She had so much inner beauty that I wanted to be Sophia. It is through her that I have defined beauty. My definition of beauty is …is everything. It is everywhere, everyone. It is Amy Corser’s eyes. Ha – old people in shorts and tank tops. Rikkel Bravo’s radiant skin. Rwanda…Darfur. Gloria Beingana’s smile. Biracial relationships. Fred’s wet high fives. Jenna Joseph’s eyebrows. All relationships regardless of sexual orientation. Mr. Stayton’s gold tee. The way Coach Simmons wrinkles her forehead when trying to make a point. Emma McGoff’s creativity. Kelsey Hock’s red hair. The way Mr. Smith’s whole face lights up when he smiles. Mr. Carle’s deep voice. Mrs. Cramer’s sweet voice. And Mr. V’s unique walk. This is what beauty is. My purpose is to destroy the image that so often comes to mind when one hears the word “beautiful.” Look to your left. And what do you see. Now look to your right. Now look all around you. I see beauty. What about you? Summit Magazine 11