Butterfly Romper, Floppy Hat: Thrifted.
Tan Clog Heels: Target.
Ever since the 8th grade I wanted to win best dressed as a senior. I was an awkward, shy, and badly dressed preteen girl. I didn't know who I was and had no idea how to find myself. I did know that I wanted to be fashionable though. I wanted to look put together and unique. Stylish yet still me. I wanted to wear high heels and fancy dresses, wear my hair in pretty curls and wear red lipstick. Too bad I had never even owned any of that in my entire life.
In the eighth grade I found out through a friend's older brother's year book what 'senior personalities' were. Scanning through his senior high school year book my eye caught one category in particular. Best Dressed. The girl and guy looked impeccable. Straight out of the magazines I looked at while waiting to check out in the Kroger. My heart sunk though because I could never be as beautiful and confident as those high schoolers.
But I decided to give it a shot anyways. To try my hand at being 'fashionable.' To break out of my shell, stop caring what people thought of me, and wear what I wanted to wear. I told myself that someday I would win the best dressed student of my 2012 high school class. And I have.
I sit here crying because all of my dreams have come true for me. All of the things I never thought possible for someone like me. A girl who came from literally nothing. Nothing. I defeated the odds. I overcame my insecurities. I found myself along the way and came out victorious with what I set out to do. I can't stop saying it over and over again. I am the winner of the best dressed senior girl.
I know it may seem so silly and superficial to some of you. To be so overjoyed at something as trivial and petty as a high school voting contest, but for me it is something that represents so much more. It represents not giving up. It represents going after your dreams. It represents I CAN instead of I CAN'T. It represents all of the girls out there who never think they can do something with their lives. It represents the promise that I'm not just going into fashion for the heck of it, but I'm good at something and passionate. It represents all of the struggles, heartbreaks, and loss of identity I've had over the years. It represents me.
I'm the happiest girl alive.
With much love, Lauren.
