ME, MYSELF, AND US!

I’m an optimist through and through, and while I know life is hard and sometimes unforgiving, it’s not impossible. I used to hate the fact that things had to be perfect. They don’t. They can be good enough. There’s no explicit rule saying that we, as 18 year olds, have to be perfect.

The definition of perfect is “having all the required or desirable elements or qualities; as good as it is possible to be”. But how are we meant to know our qualities if we don’t know who we are? Lacking perfection does not diminish us. Perfect is just a word, a concept, an antagonist. It’s not a person, and it’s certainly not love.

“Perfect” would never survive as a human being because what makes us perfect is the fact that we aren’t. It’s corny, I know, but every blemish on our skin, every burned bridge in our relationships, every scar that has tainted the stained glass of our reflection, every word we’ve said (the good and the bad), every story posted (the good and the bad), every picture ever taken (the good and the bad!) is what defines us.

We are who we are not because we are perfect, but because we are flawed. I once thought that school wouldn’t teach me life lessons. But in English, we learned about non-linear storylines and how life is not like a storybook. Sometimes the resolution doesn’t magically appear after the climax. In Math, we learned that rational functions are not abstract, but rather all over the place! In Biology, we learned how some of the most important discoveries were made by accident.

What I’m saying is life is spontaneous. It doesn’t make sense to rush into things when you don’t know who you are, nor should you force yourself to figure it out immediately. What I can say with certainty is that you are the weirdest and most unique bunch of people I’ve ever met, and I hope we all become who we most want to be. But here is my advice: let go of things that don’t benefit you. It doesn’t make sense to drag a boulder your whole life just because you’re used to it. Don’t be afraid of change. Like butterflies and snakes, we shed our skins and bloom into ourselves. Follow your instincts. Your body knows what’s best for you. If you’re confronted with something you don’t believe in, speak up. Make mistakes. Do it! There’s no need to dwell on the past. Trust me, you’ll just waste the present.

Romanticize life. Make the small moments big moments because the memories are so worth it. What others do, what others achieve, what others possess does not affect you. Don’t look at others because you should measure your worth by what you achieved last. And really, your worth is best measured by how well you love and accept who you are.

Your biggest enemy is yourself and your biggest friend is yourself. At the end of the day, you have just you. As Beyoncè said, “I got me, myself and I”. There can be 100 people in a room, and 99 don’t believe in you. You need just one, and no, it’s not Bradley Cooper. It’s you! Self belief, self love, self realisation is not a linear journey. Enjoy the plot twists and turns. Be selfish (in a good way). If you don’t want to give something up, then don’t. Selfish doesn’t imply self centered. It can also mean self respect, that you’re allowed to prioritize your needs over what you think others need from you.

I’ll end this speech with another quote, my own: “indulge in hope, dreams and happiness and ignore fear. You deserve to be painted by the colours you choose.”