Competition Winner: Huang Yingjie

My favourite quote is ‘be yourself’. Simple but powerful.
I love this quote because it reminds me that I have the freedom to walk around this entire world unjudged. In high school, I was quite the people pleaser. I wanted everyone to like me because I thought that the more likeable I was, the further that I would get in life. I thought that being popular was so cool and I tried so hard to become this person that everyone would like. Most of the time in high school, I was living my life through other people’s opinions of me. I dare not to reject other classmates’ request for copying my homework, I had to put aside my revision plan when my classmates seek for my help in their assignment, I dare not to raise up my different opinion-because I afraid. I afraid that other people will mad, I afraid that other people will not like me anymore because of my rejection. Slowly by slowly, my self-identity being gnawed away.
My self-identity was like the broken glass on the floor until I found this quote from a book, ‘Be yourself, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.’ I realised that how ridiculous I was for allowing the thoughts and opinions of others to dictate how I live my life.
It reminds me to love myself unconditionally. When I say love myself, it means that I embrace and accept my whole self, including the imperfection. It reminds me I don’t need to be perfect in everything because I will lose myself on pursuing perfection. I just need to be the best version of myself. It reminds me I can be proud of myself with flaws.
It reminds me to be brave. I only give one shot at this live. One opportunity to live fully. One opportunity to create some magic. It is ok to say no sometimes, to say no with passion, with authentic certainty because I know what is best for me. Not everyone will get it, and that’s ok.
Once again, I want to shout out to myself, ‘Be who you are. Be who you want to be. Be your full 100% authentic self!’”