I have never been the smartest person in the room. I used to struggle a lot with this. I poured my heart and soul into assignments only to receive a lower grade than what my classmates achieved in a fraction of the time. It felt discouraging—I always felt like I was falling short.

I was in this constant battle between wanting to do well and feeling like I wasn’t smart enough. Every time I heard a kid in my class say “I got an A and I didn’t study,” I became frustrated. I studied twice as hard, worked endlessly on assignments and pushed myself to the brink just to achieve what others seemed to accomplish effortlessly.

I distinctly remember a breaking point—an entire class spent in the school bathroom, tears streaming down my face over receiving an 83% on an essay on “The Great Gatsby.” As I sat on the bathroom floor with a few of my friends, I began to question what the point of this all was. I realized getting an ‘A’ was not worth jeopardizing my mental and emotional well-being.

That realization was transformative. I began to embrace imperfection—not as a sign of weakness but as a testament to my authenticity. I realized perfection is unattainable, so chasing it was just a waste of time.

I decided to pivot my focus. I embraced the mantra of doing what I loved, even if I wasn’t the best at it. I joined the dance team even though I was a horrible dancer because it made me happy. I stayed in that challenging English 11 ADV class because I was determined to learn and grow.

I learned to value the journey rather than fixate on the destination. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about being myself, flaws and all, and enjoying the experiences that came my way.

For anyone dealing with similar insecurities, here’s my advice: keep at it and stay true to yourself. Pursue what you love, even if you’re not the best at it. Push through challenges to grow, not to be perfect. Embrace imperfections because they make you who you are.