Comparing and Birthday!

I remember in school when we were given the task to compare two different things. What were the similarities and differences between the two? It was a popular question in any subject in school because it was designed to make us think about what makes two things different, but what even the smallest things can make them similar. It was designed to open our eyes and our minds to look for these similarities and differences in everyday situations, but what if it made us too good at it that it blinded us in a way?

I've been thinking about this idea for a long time now. . . As I grow up and go through college, I am meeting lots of people who all have different lives from me. From growing up in different countries to different cultures, languages, and everything in between, not only have I been teaching myself not to compare myself to others, but I have also been showing others how it simply isn't possible.

From the day we are born, every single person has a different story and a different timeline in their journey through life. Whether it's a rich childhood with wealth in money or one with a little less bling but more experience, we all face our hardships and successes at our own pace. For years, I thought I was weird because the pace at which I was growing up felt rushed compared to those around me. Sometimes I even felt I was missing out because I couldn't let go and do "stupid stuff," and it wasn't till I heard one of my friends comparing herself to her parents that I understood. From such a young age, we look at others as competition,

comparing everything we are to everyone else. Our clothes, hair, grades, rankings, and so much more become just a chance to push ourselves down, claiming we are not "good enough" because someone is "better" than us. Everyone's story is different; our struggles, our successes, our driving factors, and events that altered our entire existence are all different. To compare ourselves with others, we would have to look at all of it, not just the age, the gender, the period of life we think they might be in. We have to look at it all because just because I may be 21 now doesn't mean I am the same as every 21-year-old or have the same path. When we learn to stop comparing ourselves to others, that's when we can finally start growing towards our full potential.

This weekend was homecoming week in Alcorn, and while I wasn't on campus during the weekend due to being away, it was still very interesting to hear what happened. We had a shooting on campus resulting in 1 girl dying, who was a student, and whose mother is a teacher, and 2 more injured, with their statuses unknown to us on campus. When any life is lost, there is sadness; however, the saddest part was that there wasn't a shock from other students. Last homecoming, we had another shooting incident, though not as bad as the one that killed, and the target was only one male. It was still sad that we all knew something was going to happen. When people become desensitized to death over the news, something is very wrong. While we mourn the loss of a student, a friend, a daughter, and a human being, we must realize what each of these deaths means. Whether from school shootings, war, or simple gang conflict, each person dead is a voice forever silenced, and it affects every person around them. Violence towards innocence should never be allowed or accepted as freely as it has. Children dying should never, ever be overlooked as it is now. We are traumatizing a future generation who will no longer know peace and happiness in places where they should be completely safe and free to learn, explore, and thrive. The cycle will continue until everyone, EVERYONE, says that enough is enough.

Thank you all for reading and I'll see you again at the next update!