A Boisterous Claim

I got inspiration by one of my newly discovered blogs called I Help You Blog, giving ideas to individuals with blogger's block! One of the ideas was to: "Turn a negative into a positive", and "Write a satirical post." Therefore, I present you with a not-so-funny, sad blog post.

I am not often, but occasionally called: "arrogant", "cocky", or "extravagant". Humorous, considering when one puts this into perspective: I have absolutely everything to be cocky about, whether I act on it or not. How can I back this statement up without being arrogant? Being logical.

Growing up as a young woman in a pressuring society, I never once gave in to peer pressure or media's "image stunts" (and do not expect to, either). My parents, who experimented in their young years, always expected me to be a normal teenager: do stupid things, learn my mistakes, and grow up. To their pleasant surprise, raising me with so much tender love, and the acceptance of imperfections worked to their advantage.

To this day, I am a substance-free, responsible young person who contributes to community service, gets nearly straight A's in school, and has received deep recognition for their talents and scholarly merit, along with a great, healthy parent-child relationship. You're telling me that is not something to be proud of?

I find it disappointing meeting individuals with less passion at my age. Not because I think I am better than everyone else, but because I have so much compassion for my generation of learners, changers, and lovers, I wish they took their young lives just as serious as I take mine.

Back in the civil rights movement, a young, African-American woman about my age, Phillis Wheatley, published poetry that shocked the nation, giving ageist adults a reason to believe in the future of the children. Often, I use this example of youthful talent in comparison to myself: there were and are far more individuals who made much more prideful accomplishments at a young age than I could even dream of reaching today, and even if I tried, could not reach, due to the difference in our generations.

I am a simple, Hispanic/Caucasian youngin' living in the Northwest, in a modern time when most people are accepted, for both their sexualities and their races. No poetry I post is going to be world-changing, nor is any blog post going to be an appreciated, massive talent, as pretty much every teenager is blogging these days, and all it takes is a few clicks, regardless of your English abilities.

However, for the modern era, being substance-free and ready to embark on the journey through college, and a stable, adult relationship is a big accomplishment. To know what I am good at, what my life's calling just might be, and what I will not tolerate within this journey is perfect enough for any parent and any well-balanced, content adult to accept, appreciate, and admire.

I am sorry to break the bubble for some, but being aware of yourself is not being arrogant! To those fellow peers of mine: don't give up on being you. Discover your talents, and if you already have: celebrate them. Anyone who disagrees otherwise is not worth an ounce of your time. Like Dr. Seuss said: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

My personal belief that I live by and encourage my friends to live by is this: if everyone was proud of who they were, what they accomplished, and what they are capable of, nobody would envy others, nor feel bad enough about themselves to call others "arrogant". In the end, you are just as arrogant if you believe you have enough status to confront someone as "arrogant". In the end, it will not affect you, no matter how an individual presents themselves.