Haley McCay

Being a teenager is tough, especially with all the peer pressure. The pressure to fit in, to be like the other kids, to look how they do. I know how that feels, being a freshman in highschool; it's tough. Even though you may feel like you want to fit in and be like the other kids, you need to be yourself. Fitting in isn't always the right thing to do. It's better to be wearing something you feel good in and like then to wear something that you don't.

When I was in sixth grade, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, a heraditary disease when your spine is curved. Nine days before my twelfth birthday I had to go in for surgery. Six hours later I woke in the hospital, sore and stiff. For months afterwards I couldn't wear the clothes I wanted and I was out of school for almost a month and a half recovering. Most people, in my situation, could care less about how they dressed, but not me. My surgery opened my eyes to fashion in a way. I was constantly tired and sore and quiet afer my surgery, but when I wore clothes that I loved it was like I was yelling to the world, "This is me, this is who I am, I'm strong and I know it."

Not only did I start wearing the clothes I wanted to, but I felt good about it, and other people liked the way I dressed. Clothes gave me confidence. Clothes made me feel good about myself. Clothes made me stronger then I ever could have been.