I silently looked at myself in the mirror. I was contemplating myself. Was I as beautiful as my parents said I was? Was I really the only me I would ever find in the world? This is what I was asking myself as I looked at myself. I know I am far from perfect. In fact, I know that more than anyone else. When I look in the mirror, I see flaws. I see a girl who is not generally accepted by the world. I see a girl who is not chased by boys, but doesn’t chase them either. I see a wallflower who doesn’t open her petals for fear of having them torn off. I see a girl who doesn’t have much experience with the world and with the people in it. But I also see a girl who has so much potential, and it’s trying to escape. I see a girl who is still growing out of her naïve ways, and into more mature ones. I see a girl who is not the perfect image of the world, but she is who she is; who she chooses to be. I see a girl who has her own identity, and who has faith, who has a divine nature and has her own individual worth. I see a girl who tries to do good works in her thoughts and in her actions. She has integrity, and she’ll never let it go. When I look in the mirror, I try to remind myself this. I am beautiful, and as cheesy as it sounds, no one is going to bring me down from that. I know my true identity.
And I think that all women should feel like that, whether we are young and old, Latina or not! We are all beautiful and we’re all so special. I ask that you keep this thought with you as you continue in the struggles of daily life. In my church, the young women all have a mission statement which I think can apply to us all (not just to young women):
…Procuremos vivir de acuerdo con los valores
De las Mujeres Jóvenes que son:
Fe
Naturaleza Divina
Valor Individual
Conocimiento
Elección y Responsabilidad
Buenas obras
Integridad
Y Virtud
Creemos que aceptar y poner en práctica estos Valores, Estaremos preparadas para fortalecer el hogar y la familia…
What we believe and what we are able to accomplish really depends on us. I see so much potential in women I meet every day, and I ask you not to let that potential go to waste. Be all that you can be. Be great, and wonderful, and beautiful! Whether in your home, work, etc. But being great begins with one thing: you have to believe that you are.
-Victoria Mancuso
