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We Are Our Own Worst Critics

Cameron Rader - Lovington High School
WUIS/Illinois Issues

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Do you turn the pillow over to the cooler side, or do you get up instantly to start your day?

For me, each morning I discover my hands have made their way up to my face. My hands search for new marks and blemishes, and I brace myself before looking into the mirror to find that acne has plagued my face once more and it will ruin my day. I’ve suffered from acne for two years, but I’ve had it for three.

Everyone is beautiful in their own way. We are canvasses that were filled with an artist's perspective and we should be happy that we at least have little sections of uniqueness.

  I believe that we are our own worst critics. For two years, I would dread going to school because everyone had clear or close to clear skin. I was always paranoid that someone would make fun of me. As a freshman, I was always worried about some upperclassman calling me out on it and poking fun.  I’m a senior now, and I have never been made fun of for my acne. I know now that the person who was most concerned about it was me.

I believe that everyone wakes up in the morning and sees something in the mirror that they wish they could change. This is where I had my point of revelation. Nowadays, there is one golden rule I live by when I think about going to places and meeting new people:  The people who matter don’t mind, and the people who mind don’t matter.  Following this rule, I keep myself from holding back on meeting new people just because of what I look like.

I’m actually somewhat grateful, for if I didn’t have acne, I could be friends with a lot of mean and shallow kids. I have surrounded myself with a lot of great people, and when I’m with them, I don’t even think about my face. So, when someone looks into the mirror and sees some sort of flaw they can’t change, don’t stress out.  Even diamonds have their little imperfections. A flaw is usually just something you have that the next person doesn’t. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. We are canvasses that were filled with an artist’s perspective and we should be happy that we at least have little sections of uniqueness.

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Happiness is just a word; it’s up to you to make life what you love. I believe we have to work for happiness, chase after it, and reach for it. If life deals us a hand with a solution without any easy fix, we have to make the best of it. I feel like having a flaw has changed my personality for the best. I could have grown up to be shallow and biased on first looks. I’ve discovered some of the best people that I may have missed out on if I was this way. I’ve made the best out of a bad situation, and I know others can too.

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