Growing up as someone of color, I’ve personally experienced times where I felt like I “didn’t belong”. Being in a predominantly white area, I was rarely surrounded by people that looked like me.
It had a real impact on me and affected how I viewed myself.
I felt as if I didn’t belong or that I couldn’t accomplish certain things that others could just because of the way I looked, which brought my self-esteem and confidence to a low.
This all changed when I tried out for my high school dance team my freshman year. The team never had more than 2 black girls and those spots had already been filled.
Feeling like I wouldn’t make the team because of how I looked had a BIG effect on my confidence. It made me question whether or not I would be able to achieve my goal…
But, to my surprise, I ended up making the team!
This was a very pivotal moment for me as a kid because it helped me realize that I could accomplish anything as long as I never gave up! It gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams… and to believe in myself when others didn’t!