We Are More

I want you to do something for me.

I want you to get on Instagram and search the hashtag, "#nofilter."

And I want you to tell me what you see.

Because when I did it, I saw filters.

I saw Inkwell, I saw Rise, I saw X-Pro II.

Because we are not happy with simply being us.

Because just like the rest of my generation, I have been taught to believe that I am not good enough for myself. I have been taught that there is always room for improvement.

I need that filter to make me better.

I need that filter to cover up my acne scars and make me "prettier" than I am.

When in reality, there is nothing wrong with me.

There is nothing wrong with the freckle on my right ear there is nothing wrong with fat on my body there is nothing wrong with the glasses that I wear there is nothing wrong with scars on my thigh that got there

From believing that there is something wrong.

Without filters, I am strong and I am wonderful. I am kind and I am worthy. I am loyal and I am dedicated.

I am the way that rain falls from clouds. I am the way that my mother yells at my sister. I am the way that I field a ground ball at softball.

I am the way that my face breaks out when I am stressed, I am the way that I can solve a math problem in under a minute, I am the way that I talk fast when I am passionate.

I am more than my past mistakes, I am more than my future decisions, I am more than the stories I write, I am more than the nights I have spent crying, I am more than my GPA, I am more than my athletic ability, and I am more than I am given credit for.

I do not need filters to make me a better person.

I am the most authentic version of myself, and I am beautiful.