STOP TELLING ME WHO TO BE BY STEFANIE HUNNIFORD

“Stef, don’t do that.”

“Stef, don’t say that.”

“Stef, you’re wrong.”

Imagine hearing these phrases, and more, so many times in your life that you forget who you are. You become what others want you to be. But on the inside, there’s still a part of you trying to let who you really are out.  

On the inside, I’m someone who isn’t afraid to challenge others. Someone who wants to think and simply be different than others. Someone who doesn’t want the traditional career path.

Yet some of the most influential people in my life want me to be just like everyone else. They want me to make my resume look just like everyone else’s. They want me to take the same classes as everyone else. They say I should do “this” for my career without even asking for my input. They tell me what to value without even looking at who I truly am.

Creativity is my chance to break this. It’s my chance to silence my VOJ and silence everyone else. It teaches me that it’s ok, no, it’s good to be different than everyone else. It’s my opportunity to go outside of the norm and find something that will truly fulfill my life.