Pregnant or know someone who is? Check these stories out.

:: >>

I was never the prettiest girl, and I never had the longest hair, and unfortunately acne, which hit at 10, continues. I used to look in the mirror and just feel bad about myself all together. I used to wear braids so there was always a weave joke somewhere. In a way, I was hiding the real me. I felt that to be pretty you had to have long hair and smooth skin. I've realized over the years that some of the prettiest people have the worst attitudes. I've learned that hey, the outside helps, but the inside is what makes you shine.

One day this boy made the comment "when is she going to take the weave out?" It hurt. It really hurt. That night I made the decision to take it out and never put it back in. I realize now that I made that choice for the wrong reason, but today I feel empowered by it. I can't say that what people say doesn't hurt once in a while, but it only makes me stronger. I was never the most popular person, but I thought they always have to keep up appearances. But I can just be me at all times and I've made life-long friends. Criticism by other people can sometimes be effective, and if not, evaluate it and turn it around and make good use of it.

Even when things are looking down for me and I feel as though I'm not what I want to be, I think of all the good in me and what I can bring to people and the world and I just don't feel that bad anymore. There's always the good and the bad to a certain situation. Wouldn't it be better to take the good out of it and not dwell on the bad? Life is what you make of it and if you want to be what they say you are you're only letting them win. It's not just about proving them wrong. It's about proving yourself wrong. That's what I told and keep telling myself. I'll always have insecurities, but I'm only 14 once. I've decided to make the best of it. I'll be happy and I won't be torn down. I'll walk with my head high and work with what I've got.