I know I’m stronger

I’ll admit I’m pretty small, petite, and have a baby face. People assume that because of my physical appearance that they can walk all over me and have to baby me. I want people to tell me directly if I’m doing something wrong, not go around me and make my friend tell me. I can take criticism. I am not sensitive and will not breakdown. It will not hurt me to let me know that I can do something better. In fact, not telling me hurts me more because I will just continue to do something incorrectly or ineffectively. I know I’m stronger than most think. Last year I really recognized how strong I am. It was the first time that my family was no longer living with my extended family, whom I’ve lived with my whole life. We were moving out of my childhood home. I was also applying to the nursing program and to be a residential advisor the next year. I had so much pressure that I put on myself to do better. I really wanted to make it into the program and be an RA, but my family was going through a difficult time and I couldn’t even be there for them. Having family tension that I couldn’t do much about, major applications due and my friends struggling, too, I didn’t know how everything was going to work out. But in the end, I came out of that time with my family having their own home, in the nursing program, and am currently an RA. I realized that I can come out of adversity efficiently. I am capable of standing up for myself and can go through anything life will throw at me. I wish people would understand that we never really know what someone else is like or truly going through. It’s important for us to understand where people are coming from and not deflect our own biases onto other people and hinder our judgement. Making assumptions can cause us to act in a way that is detrimental. So, instead of inferring we should all just ask and be mindful of others in any situation.