Uginess

I believe that for the first time in my life I have seen myself clearly in the mirror. It's one of those days where so much feels wrong.

Most people have pictures and moments of themselves that they don't like, and I believe it is those that we should look at most. Instead of avoiding the things we dislike, they should be all the more embraced. Be it blemishes or not doing well in school, the problem should be faced head-on.

I hate my skin. Even as I say it, I find it partially untrue. I like seeing the scars along my knees and shins where I have good childhood memories and I like seeing my forearms turn tan during the summer. There are other parts I find disgusting. Acne, I believe, is the crusher of self-esteems for adults and teens alike. I haven't done anything wrong. I'm not a bad person for having pimples. I'm simply an ugly one.

History

I sit here studying for a test on 19th century American history and my mind is far from wanting to memorize the black and white text in a textbook of pages. Dirty politicians and back-handed deals are put right up alongside glorified heroes and veterans, but their actions are judged so simply that it puts my heart at unease. Is it right for us to write textbooks for the sake of students to memorize and leave out all the rest? If nothing else, I hope I am never put into a history book. The injustice it would is irreparable and creates a stain that lasts for ages to come.