Why Can't I Just Be Me? Part 3

by Bailey
(USA)

Slowly, cautiously, I walked up to Mrs. Z’s desk. “Mrs. Z?” I asked.

She looked up from grading our homework assignments and smiled at me. “Yes Delaney? What can I do for you?”

“I was hoping to change my topic. I don’t think this one is right for me.”

Mrs. Z looked confused. “But Delaney, you are a very thoughtful person. This is the perfect topic for you.”

I shook my head and stumbled over my words. “No, I…I really don’t think that this is…”

Mrs. Z smiled. “You’re worried about what the class will think.”

I stared at the blue ‘Self-Esteem’ poster over her head and slowly nodded.

She smiled. “Good. Then you will do perfectly.”

“What?” I asked, confused.

“You are worried people will not like who you are. But your topic is loving who you are. This is the perfect chance for you to learn a little more about yourself. So no Delaney, I’m sorry, but I won’t let you change your topic. I’m eager to hear what you have to say.”

Deciding it best not to protest, I dragged my feet back to my desk and unwillingly headed my paper.


“Hi. I’m Delaney Gemm and I’m here to talk about loving who you are.” I heard some groans and saw some smirks but it was too late now to back down. “If you’re here in this room today and you love who you are, raise your hand.”
I put my hand in the air and so did Margie. Most of the others girls smirked or giggled.

“This,” I said, gesturing to myself, “is me. Maybe this isn't who I would like to be. But this is who I am meant to be. And it’s all I ever want to be.”

“Raise your hand if you’d rather be overweight than underweight.” No one raised her hand.
“In America these days, people are becoming more and more obsessed with how they look. Notice how there are always best and worst dressed list. But what about a ‘best attitude’ list? Or a ‘most confident in her skin’ list? Why do Americans believe that outer beauty is more important than inner beauty?”

As I finished, Mrs. Z, along with most of the other girls, stood up and applauded. I smiled and said, “I love who I am. I love that I can write poetry and I love that I can’t run fast. I love that I’m not stick-skinny. I just want to be me because God made me just the way he wants me to be. And God doesn’t make mistakes.”