By: Lan Ly
I’m sure you’ve dealt with self esteem issues in your life before, but something like this hits home to Alejandra “Ale” Garcia, a Yerba Buena Junior who struggled with maintaining her self- image throughout her middle school years.
Although her self esteem affected both her academics and life, she didn’t let it define her life; she instead accepted it and grew out of it through the help of her friends and family.
But she wasn’t always like this. It all started back in 7th grade, in Bridges Academy, when she started becoming more self-conscious about her body-image.
Something that impacted her self-esteem the most was the people she spent her time with. She says, “I felt like I hung out with the wrong crowd of people, they would make me feel like my looks weren’t enough, and I would bring myself down too.”
Ale felt like she “wasn’t good enough, not good for nobody, and wasn’t happy with myself.”
Because of this, she would constantly think negatively towards herself: “When I see someone who looks prettier than me, I think, Why can’t I have that? Why can’t I look like her?”
She didn’t think too much about her situation, even though their critiques and judgments hurt her, she didn’t want to think of losing the only friends she had.
She says, “ I felt hurt, it feels painful because they’d always point out how my body looks and I had to deal with that everyday, it’s like I’m hanging out with them just for the sake of it.”
It not only affected her self-image, but it also took a deep toll on her academic performance and motivation to go to school.
“My grades started dropping and my teachers started getting worried about me. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to pass my classes, but at the same time, I didn’t care because I already felt like I wasn’t pretty, so it would mean that I couldn’t do well in school too.” says Garcia.
Even though Ale had to struggle like this for two years, her family and new found friends made her see herself in a different light.
She says, “I didn’t ask for help back then because I thought it was normal, but I think it got too much and I had no choice but to tell my parents about it. My mom cried and hugged me because she can tell how much I needed help.”
“I made new friends in high school and they were so nice to me; that was the first time I’ve felt like the way I am is already enough. I’d like to judge myself and they’d immediately tell me that I look great,” says Garcia.
Before, Ale was so preoccupied with her body-image but now she says that she’s able to focus on different hobbies and even back on her academics, like baking or listening to music.
Furthermore, she is hopeful for the future. “After high school, I plan to go to college and become a medical assistant, my family is in the medical field so I might as well as follow them,” says Ale.
I’m sure you’ve dealt with self esteem issues in your life before, but something like this hits home to Alejandra “Ale” Garcia, a Yerba Buena Junior who struggled with maintaining her self- image throughout her middle school years.
Although her self esteem affected both her academics and life, she didn’t let it define her life; she instead accepted it and grew out of it through the help of her friends and family.
But she wasn’t always like this. It all started back in 7th grade, in Bridges Academy, when she started becoming more self-conscious about her body-image.
Something that impacted her self-esteem the most was the people she spent her time with. She says, “I felt like I hung out with the wrong crowd of people, they would make me feel like my looks weren’t enough, and I would bring myself down too.”
Ale felt like she “wasn’t good enough, not good for nobody, and wasn’t happy with myself.”
Because of this, she would constantly think negatively towards herself: “When I see someone who looks prettier than me, I think, Why can’t I have that? Why can’t I look like her?”
She didn’t think too much about her situation, even though their critiques and judgments hurt her, she didn’t want to think of losing the only friends she had.
She says, “ I felt hurt, it feels painful because they’d always point out how my body looks and I had to deal with that everyday, it’s like I’m hanging out with them just for the sake of it.”
It not only affected her self-image, but it also took a deep toll on her academic performance and motivation to go to school.
“My grades started dropping and my teachers started getting worried about me. I was afraid that I wasn’t going to pass my classes, but at the same time, I didn’t care because I already felt like I wasn’t pretty, so it would mean that I couldn’t do well in school too.” says Garcia.
Even though Ale had to struggle like this for two years, her family and new found friends made her see herself in a different light.
She says, “I didn’t ask for help back then because I thought it was normal, but I think it got too much and I had no choice but to tell my parents about it. My mom cried and hugged me because she can tell how much I needed help.”
“I made new friends in high school and they were so nice to me; that was the first time I’ve felt like the way I am is already enough. I’d like to judge myself and they’d immediately tell me that I look great,” says Garcia.
Before, Ale was so preoccupied with her body-image but now she says that she’s able to focus on different hobbies and even back on her academics, like baking or listening to music.
Furthermore, she is hopeful for the future. “After high school, I plan to go to college and become a medical assistant, my family is in the medical field so I might as well as follow them,” says Ale.