#BeAFriendMonth: Be Yourself!

(L to R): Rachel and her best friend, who is someone 

she can be herself around! 

As I have gone through middle school and now I am a junior in high school, I have realized how important it is to have friends beside you. I have always been friends with a lot of the girl groups in my grade, but this year I have become very close with a couple of girls who are now my best friends. I have learned what it means to be a friend as well as have friends who support me.

I think the most important quality in a friend is being honest with each other. Someone who can make you laugh, someone who listens to what you have to say, gives good advice and someone whom you know will always have your back, no matter what. I am the kind of person who does not like rumors, and gossiping, and being mean with one and other—so I definitely say NO DRAMA!! Its important to surround yourself with people who aren’t looking for drama or trying to cut each other down.  

Just a simple smile may start a conversation and friendship. You never really know someone until you start talking to them- and you may realize that you have common likes and interests. Always be nice to everyone because everyone wants a friend! I know that personally--I have made a lot of friends who I never thought would be my friend just by starting to talk with them and learning more about them. 

 You must always be yourself because there will be people out there who like you for just the way you are- and those people will be your true, lifelong friends in life.

Rachel is a junior in high school, a Girl Talk Leader, and a member of Girl Talk's National Teen Advisory Board! She wanted to be involved with Girl Talk so that she could give back to her community, become a stronger woman, and voice her opinions. Rachel hopes to inspire girls with her involvement with Girl Talk.

Growing Up Being Bullied

I was in 6th grade and in a new school and found myself to be a tiny little fish in a big pond. My previous school I was well liked and had many friends. It seemed easy for me to make friends. When my parents decided to move my sister and I to a private school everything changed. I was the "cute" little mousy girl who didn't fit in with the upper class rich kids. I had only one close friend that year. We stuck together in everything. 

Each school day began the same way. Pull up and walk in with knots in my stomach because I knew that this young man, who was 2 grades above me, would block my locker and make me late for class. He had the upper locker above mine. He never failed to look at me, stand in front of both our locker's and purposely wait until the last bell rang before he allowed me to get my books. But he was just one of many that would taunt me. There were several occasions where young boys would send me letters across the classroom to "ask" me to be their girlfriend. Then I would hear the girls snickering. It was humiliating! My friend received some of that same humiliation. I never told my teachers. I didn't want to be viewed as weak! I had an inner strength that pulled me through. That same strength is ingrained in me today. Perhaps because I come from a long line of strong women in my family.

By the end of the year the same young man that taunted me and made me late for class became somewhat of a guardian. It was strange. I believe it was solely because I didn't allow my emotions to show outwardly. He became my advocate so to speak! I became the "cool" geek. Others began to lay off. I truly believe that my forgiving spirit smothered out their meanness. 

Looking back, I see how blessed I was for that quiet strength. Some are not that fortunate. Today I have a heart for reaching out to those who struggle with confidence issues. No one should have to endure bullying. Unfortunately there will always that bully in a crowd, but we should ban together to stop the bully!

Testimonial Tuesday: Chloe!

I decided to start a Girl Talk Chapter because I wanted to really make a difference before I graduate into a full adult. As a kid I was always bullied; I was the new girl at school who was socially awkward, chubby, and depressed. Along with having serious trouble and feeling isolated at home, I was isolated at school as well. No one wanted to be my friend. People were really mean, especially the girls; they were vicious gossipers and callow bullies My sister was the "popular" girl at school and didn't want anything to do with me. I was completely alone. I remember walking home from school once and having a band of girls follow me, calling me a "thing" and throwing foreign objects at me. I remember crying at home secretly because I was so lonely at school and I felt so badly about myself. I remember having my confidence destroyed by mean little girls who spent all their time thinking of new things to do to make me miserable. They made me believe that I was fat, ugly, unlikeable, stupid, and a bad person that didn't deserve any better. I even remember contemplating suicide. Every day I would record what those girls did to me in my journal. I still have that journal today with all the entries in it.

Why this is relevant today is that I strongly believe that back then, I really could have used some support and help to make my life less miserable. Maybe if I had had a friend, I wouldn't have developed that eating disorder (which is the long gone past), or resorted to making all the bad decisions that I made in the past. Having a friend or a safe spot to share my feelings, or some support, would have saved me so much pain and given me the little comfort I craved badly in the hell I was living in. I want to reach out to girls who are in the same position. So wherever they are, whoever they are, they'll at least have a little sliver of hope, of something going for them in their lives.

 

Sincerely,

 

Chloe

 

Testimonial Tuesday: Girl Talk Leader Emily!

I love being able to positively influence middle school girls by inspiring them to gain confidence they need to make the good choices in their journey ahead. I am a Girl Talk Leader because I desire to be a strong force in younger girls' lives by giving them someone to look up to and trust with their problems. 

The problems I feel that girls today struggle with the most is cliques and body image.  I think that by encouraging girls to encourage and love each other, we can instill confidence in girls to take on anything that stands in their way.

Testimonial Tuesday: Girl Talk Leader Abby!

Hi! My name is Abby and I'm a Girl Talk Leader in Albany, GA! I feel blessed to be a Girl Talk Leader. I get to help middle school girls make their experiences in middle the best it can be. I get to offer advice on situations they’re in because I’ve been in their same shoes. I just feel so honored that I have the opportunity to make an impact on someone’s life and that's something I have always wanted to do. I participate in Girl Talk because I think it’s extremely important that girls, especially middle school girls, are able to talk to others and  get advice from people who have experienced what they are going through.  

A big issue today is how girls are being bullied on their appearances. They feel pressured to fit into a certain mold that society expects of them. They want to feel accepted by their peers, and are usually willing to pretend to be something they’re not in order to feel accepted. I really want girls to understand that it’s better for to be who you are. If someone doesn’t like you for who you are – don’t try to change, find someone who likes you for you. I think it is important to be comfortable in your own skin.  When people accept themselves for who they are and are happy with whom they are, they gain confidence. Confidence is important because without it, you’ll always wonder what if? What if I had done this? What if I had tried to do that? Wondering "what if..." for the rest of your life – no one wants that. I want to help middle school girls gain confidence and be happy with who they are, because everybody is unique and beautiful! 

National Physical Fitness Month!

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, then you know that we are celebrating National Physical Fitness Month throughout the month of May! We will be posting exercises, our favorite fitness activities, introducing a new monthly series about inspiring female athletes, and hear from some of you guys as well!

But don't think of this month as "The Losing Weight" month, because that's not what this month is about. Engaging in some sort of physical activity is healthy and brings confidence. We want to celebrate being active and celebrating the idea of strong being beautiful. The goal of this month is to be active, not to lose weight in order to fall under some unrealistic (and unhealthy) weight category. Take it from me, exercising for just the fun of it (yes, it CAN be fun!) is way better than exercising to reach some dangerous and unattainable goal.

I know some of you are thinking that there is absolutely no way that exercising can be fun, but I'm telling you that it is! Exercsing for you does not have to mean running or lifting a 23943292384784 pound dumbbell. Finding the perfect exercises for you is like trying to find the perfect pair of jeans. Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right fit, but once you find them, you can't wait to show them off! 

So, don't leave the Exercise Mall just yet, you may find exactly what you're looking for where you least expect it!  And don't forget to bring some friends with you. It's always better to "shop" whenever you have your best friends with you!

Now, go outside, to the gym, in your living room, etc. and have FUN!

Happy National Phsyical Fitness Month!!