Confidence is something that everyone lacks at some point in their lives. Whether it be that one second when your crush looks at you in the hallway and you didn't brush your hair, or something that hangs over you like a cloud. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has felt this way before. Celebrities, politicians, your mom-everyone experiences low self-esteem at some point in time.
With school slowly creeping up on us, it's easy to panic about new clothes, who you are going to sit with at lunch, grades, anything really. I know I'm freaking out in the clothing department, because I've barely done any shopping.
So here are some tips from probably the most insecure person in the world: me.
1. Forget about anything that happened last year
Let's be honest here. Nobody is going to remember exactly what outfits you wore last year. They might remember one or two accessories, but that's it. And that absolutely humiliating moment when you tripped and fell in the hallway? Yup, lock it away in the 'embarrassing moments I never want to remember again' file. Chances are-if you forget about it, then everyone else will forget about it. Especially if they are teasing you about it, then you should just laugh it off. Besides, you know you would laugh, had it been somebody else that had tripped.
2. Try to go a little more natural
Make-up is both good, and evil. It can be the most amazing thing ever, or it can turn you into a monster. Nobody likes a girl who is afraid to even get out of bed without 1/2 a pound of foundation on her face. I interviewed several guys, and they all said, "I prefer girls who wear less make-up. The natural look shows that they're confident, and aren't ashamed of what they look like." So skip that extra layer of mascara, hold off the winged eye for today, and apply a little less bronzer. If you want to even out your skin tone while still looking natural, then wear liquid foundation or BB cream. It works w-o-n-d-e-r-s!
3. Stay true to yourself
Staying true to yourself is possibly the most important thing you can do to ensure a fulfilling school year. Let's say you're out shopping with your BFF's. You see this totally adorbs sweater that you've been wanting for quite some time now, and it's clearanced. It would just be plain stupid to pass it up, so you decide to buy it. But one of your friends makes a face at the check-out, and makes a snarky comment about how ugly it is. You end up putting the sweater back, and your confidence is shattered for the rest of the day. But it should be like that. First off, you shouldn't be hanging with people who don't appreciate your style and who you are. Second, you should buy the sweater anyways. Stop caring so much about what other people think. Sure, dress to impress. Personal hygiene, dressing nice, and having a decent personality are expected of you. But don't run home crying if you overhear someone talking smack about you in the hallway. No matter how bad (or how true) it is, just hold your head high and smile. Remember-people who talk behind your back are behind you for a reason.
4. Have a healthy lifestyle
Okay, I know you've probably heard enough about this whole "eat-well-look-well-be-well" scheme. But I am here to tell you, that it's far from a scheme. Having a nice body gives anyone a boost of confidence (including men). Drinking water is important if you want great skin, running does give you a nice booty, and choosing a salad over a steak will be worth it in the long run. So drink a glass of water when you wake up, go out for a jog and see where you end up, and hit-up subway instead of McDonald's. Trust me-you'll be thanking me later. Make sure you get enough sleep at night; at least 7 hours if you don't play sports, and 8-9 hours if you do play sports. I know how tempting it is to stay up until 1am scrolling through your Tumblr, but you'll be SO glad you didn't the next morning. Also, if your teeth are yellowish, try a whitening system a few days before school starts. Pearly whites never scared anyone away!
5. Stay organized
This is completely necessary if you even plan on getting good grades this year (which you should). At the beginning of the year, choose a system. Maybe a medium sized binder for every core class (biology, geometry, social studies, English-you get the idea), and another medium binder for all of your electives. That way the important classes each have their own designated area, and the not-so-important classes are all combined into one binder. Don't rush from class to class and just throw your stuff in your locker. Take the time to organize it and put each folder and book where it belongs. Avoid carrying more than two books to each class-it might have been okay in middle school when you had less time between classes to swap books, but in highschool, it's not cool. And don't just shove your papers in your book. Most teachers give out cheap folders on the first day, so take advantage of that if needed.
Chao!
-Nicole
4. Have a healthy lifestyle
Okay, I know you've probably heard enough about this whole "eat-well-look-well-be-well" scheme. But I am here to tell you, that it's far from a scheme. Having a nice body gives anyone a boost of confidence (including men). Drinking water is important if you want great skin, running does give you a nice booty, and choosing a salad over a steak will be worth it in the long run. So drink a glass of water when you wake up, go out for a jog and see where you end up, and hit-up subway instead of McDonald's. Trust me-you'll be thanking me later. Make sure you get enough sleep at night; at least 7 hours if you don't play sports, and 8-9 hours if you do play sports. I know how tempting it is to stay up until 1am scrolling through your Tumblr, but you'll be SO glad you didn't the next morning. Also, if your teeth are yellowish, try a whitening system a few days before school starts. Pearly whites never scared anyone away!
5. Stay organized
This is completely necessary if you even plan on getting good grades this year (which you should). At the beginning of the year, choose a system. Maybe a medium sized binder for every core class (biology, geometry, social studies, English-you get the idea), and another medium binder for all of your electives. That way the important classes each have their own designated area, and the not-so-important classes are all combined into one binder. Don't rush from class to class and just throw your stuff in your locker. Take the time to organize it and put each folder and book where it belongs. Avoid carrying more than two books to each class-it might have been okay in middle school when you had less time between classes to swap books, but in highschool, it's not cool. And don't just shove your papers in your book. Most teachers give out cheap folders on the first day, so take advantage of that if needed.
Chao!
-Nicole
