The Girl Everyone Expects Me to Be

Sometimes being a girl feels like following rules nobody ever explained.
Be pretty, but don't care too much about your looks.
Be confident, but don't be “too loud.”
Study hard, but still make time for everyone.
Have dreams, but make sure they're acceptable to others.

And somehow, you're expected to handle everything with a smile.

Nobody tells you how exhausting it can be to constantly wonder, “Am I doing enough?”
You look at other girls and start comparing everything.

Her confidence.
Her appearance.
Her friendships.
Her achievements.

But maybe the problem isn't you.
Maybe we've just been taught to measure ourselves using someone else's standards.
I'm slowly learning that I don't have to become the “perfect girl.”
I can be confused.
I can make mistakes.
I can change my mind.
I can take my time.
And maybe that's the beginning of becoming the person I actually want to be.
Maybe the hardest part isn't becoming the person I want to be.
Maybe it's letting go of the person everyone else wants me to become.
The version who never says no.
The version who never disappoints anyone.
The version who always knows what to do.
But I'm realizing that I don't owe anyone perfection.
I owe myself honesty.
And maybe, for the first time, I'm ready to choose my own voice over everyone else's expectations.