HAVE CONFIDENCE!!

Confidence! Have confidence! This is my story of how I needed confidence. For me it takes confidence to go outside. It takes confidence to shake someone's hand. It takes confidence to meet new people. I have to be a very confident person. I am going to tell you my story about how I overcame shyness and self-consciousness and became confident.

           I am a home schooled teen. I am a sophomore. I have to be confident and able to go out and meet people. When I was 13, I became very quiet. You could say I went into my shell. I did not really want to socialize. Before that I was a really friendly and out-going person. I guess what put me in my shell was people ignoring me when I would interject in a conversation or not being responsive. They shut me out and so I went into my shell. I had just moved that Spring and I did not meet many people and did not want to talk to people. That fall I started a new home-school co-op and I began speech and debate. I did not know anyone! I was forced to talk to people and in the process I met some really cool people. At speech and debate tournaments I met some very sweet people. After that I was brought out of my shell. There kindness and friendliness brought me out. Otherwise I may have been shy til this day. I was finally able to think if you don't like me that's fine but some people do. After being rejected for awhile you begin to think people don't like you. And that you are just an unlikable person. You go into your shell because you don't want to get hurt. You don't give yourself a chance to be rejected or accepted.

        Another reason I have to be confident in myself is that I have a skin condition called atopic dermatitis or eczema. It makes my skin look very dry. It appears to be contagious to some people, but it isn't. It is an inflammatory condition. It where my skin gets inflamed. This can be caused when I eat an allergen or am exposed to artificial perfumes and scents. It can be very itchy and dry and even painful. I have it on my hands and arms and legs and even a little on my face. I notice people stare at it especially on my hands and arms. It makes me feel self-conscious. And a few people have even commented on it. For me it takes a lot of confidence to put on a short-sleeved shirt and show my arms. It takes a lot of confidence to shake a hand. Because that person may look at my hand and give me a strange look like don't ever touch me again. So I have to be confident in myself. I can't care if people stare at me. I am beautiful even if my skin is not perfectly smooth. I have to tell myself that. It is not that I am conceited. It just so I can have confidence and not want to hide behind long jackets and sweaters.

          Well, this is my story of how I had to have confidence. I probably does not seem very significant. But whether you have a skin condition or are shy. You can have confidence. Who cares if people stare?? Who cares if people don't always accept you? Trust me! You are an AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL creation of the Lord. You are awesome in each and every way. Don't ever second guess that even people reject you. Remember you are a really cool person those people are only missing out! So Have Confidence!

Thanks so Much For Reading my article!

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