Perfectly beautiful

Soft and silky hair, brown eyes, pointed nose, naturally red lips, skinny body, milky white skin, and long legs. These are the mainstream’s perspective of perfection.

I was the kind of girl who easily felt insecure. Each time I looked in the mirror, I saw a girl with nothing special to be proud of. I have weird teeth, bulky hair, flaws and imperfections. I hated being myself. I felt so down whenever I saw someone who had it all.

I grew up labelling myself an outcast. But as I grew older, my perspective changed. I learned a lot of things from people who came into my life, and who stayed or just disappeared. I learned from my mistakes, and the one thing I regretted the most was not seeing who I truly am and what I am capable of.

I was never really ugly, I was never an outcast. I was, am, and will always be beautiful. Perfection is not based on looks.

Never underestimate the inner power because it is the most beautiful thing one can be proud of. Beauty does not last forever, but what is in our hearts will. If you see yourself as ugly, you may want to look and think again. A person’s character is the real beauty. It is like a pearl in the bottom of the deepest ocean. The outside may matter, but eventually, true beauty will come out and it is the heart that will matter the most.

Instead of being so vain about how you look, be conscious about how you look at the world and how the world looks at you in return. Being beautiful is about doing beautiful things to yourself, and to others as well. Being perfect is about being imperfect but still having a perfect attitude. Being yourself is the key to these things: beauty and perfection. Be beautiful inside and out so that everyone will see you not only as a pretty butterfly but also as an eagle soaring in the sky.

Be perfect in accepting yourself as you are so that you may see perfection in everyone else. Do not be afraid to be yourself. Instead, be afraid to be someone else. We are made perfect without a doubt. Try saying this as much as you can every day: “I am beautiful.” That’s right, you are!

This is one thing I can be proud of. I can say it out loud. I am perfect because I am myself. I am beautiful, and so is the one reading this.

Danielle Marie Villavert Ferrer, 17, is studying at De La Salle University, Dasmariñas.