Two Parts

Part One: Expectations.

We all deal with them. Whether it is the expectations we put on others or the ones we receive. Some meet the expectations, others don't. It depends on the person and the expectation being enforced. Some expectations can't and/or never will be met. There are people who meet all the expectations thrown at them. There are people who don't. Why is this? I don't know. Is it because they don't want to? Is it because they are too lazy? Is it because they have other things to worry about? Is it simply because they don't know how, or the expectation is to high or out of reach?

We give ourselves expectations and standards. Our parents, friends, neighbors, and even strangers do, as well. Sometimes they are fair and sometimes they're not. And most of the time if you don't live up to these high standards you are frowned upon.

I put the pressure on myself to expect intelligence, fairness, kindness, integrity, diligence, honesty, love, and logic to be expressed in my every day words and actions. This pressure can benefit me and it can hurt me. My peers put the pressure on me to be funny, once again intelligent, nice, pretty, "cool", etc. every day. They may or may not know that they do it, but they do. We all do. My parents expect me to be the best of myself. They expect me to be reasonable and logical, and sometimes I just can't. I'm a 15 year old teenager I am going to be immature and unreasonable now and again. It is only normal. The person that I feel like I have to live up to their expectations the most is my brother. It is ironic because he's the person that is around the least. I won't go into detail about why because it's a little bit too personal to put on the web.

I wish it were easier to meet all the expectations brought onto us, but I think, in a way, they are meant to challenge us. They are a way to force us to believe in ourselves, to believe that we can be the things expected of us. We can be smart, beautiful, funny, nice, understanding, honest, etc. and still be ourselves.

Part Two: Confidence.

Failing is one of the largest fears among people, and with good reason. So many heavy emotions come with the possibility and idea of failing. When you fail it makes you feel like you are not good enough, like you are not worthy. It makes you feel like you disappointed everyone that was rooting for you. No one wants to fail, no matter under which circumstances they do it, but it's inevitable. We all have to fail sooner or later. And when we do, we get up and make sure that the next time we won't, and we make sure that there IS a next time.

I believe everyone just wants to be something bigger than themselves. Everyone wants to do something amazing, something important, something that will matter, and make a difference. They might admit it or they might not, but I think deep down everyone really does. I think, too, that everyone has the ability to make themselves who they want to be. It could be easy, and it could be hard, but it will be guarenteed to be worthwhile.

To succeed, a person needs a lot of strength and a lot of courage. Above all things, though, they need to believe in themselves. They need to believe that they can do all the things they want to do. They can be who they want to be, and they can live the lives they want to live. It's easier said then done, for sure. Everyone tends to be so negative all the time. To the people around them, but mostly to themselves. This is another thing where I don't know why we all do it but we do. For some reason it's easier to find our flaws and weaknesses than our perfections and strengths. Our society would be in such better shape if we all could learn to love ourselves.

Right now I'm trying to meet my expectations, and stay as confident in myself as possible. It's hard for me, because doing both of these things are two of my biggest weaknesses. But at least I'm trying. I'm putting an effort forth. And in the end I can at least say I tried.