Comparison

Emily Biwer, 17, Wisconsin

I stand facing this person, all I can see are her flaws. Comparing every bit of unattractiveness of her features. 

Her face, the reddening of acne and the scars left behind. 

Her body, curved and floppier than the girls she sees. 

Her clothes, hang loosely around her body more than she wants.

Her hair, washed, yet still isn’t perfect like others.

All these imperfections that seem nonexistent to the girls online, who never worry about how bloated they are, or what their body looks like in their outfit. 

Why… I think, pity surrounding my thoughts. If I was prettier, people would like me more, boys would like me more. 

The boys who look at Instagram and see “perfection”.

The boys who will see plastic surgery and call it natural beauty.

The boys who hate makeup but can’t stand facial imperfections.

The very same boys who have acne freckling their faces.

The very same boys who look at their bodies in the mirror.

The very same boys who don’t look like models online.  

Everyone has imperfections. That’s what being a human is; man, woman, whoever you are. 

They look at themselves and compare, upset by their own image, jealous of what they could have. We all have flaws, and compare one another to ourselves. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t beautiful, and that we’re less than someone else that’s “prettier.”

And that’s why with every flaw, another girl sees her differently.

Her face, smooth and clear, fixing all the unwanted bumps on her skin.

Her body, smaller than theirs and curvier, and in some people’s eyes, a natural weight. 

Her clothes, always cute and always look good to them.

Her hair, looks good up and down, and always done compared to the struggle with their own hair.

The imperfections given to you are the signs you are normal. That you are human in this globe of others struggling with flaws just like you. 

Everyone has a flaw in their own eyes that needs to be fixed.  

You are not alone. You are beautiful. You are loved. Every inch of you.

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In my composition class, I started this piece writing about judging myself in the mirror and how others see me in a different light than I see myself. Then, I added on and grew my piece into what it is now. 

insta: emily.biwer

Photo by Baran Lotfollahi