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(Just to be clear, I'm no exception from giving into peer pressure, I'm no exception from judging others. I try, but I still fail. But, I feel like I need to say this: )

I don't think there has ever been a generation where the young people have faced such immense pressure to live up to "something" from their peers before. Peer pressure in this generation is absolutely insane. We are judged no matter what, and people's judgements are contradicting. We let loose and they say we're out of control. We are law abiding and we're called uptight. We dress well and they say we're pretentious. We don't dress well and we're shabby and can't be bothered. We don't do our work and people think we're lazy. We do our work and are automatically nerds. This list can go on forever.

Just what do you want from us?

I think the teenagers in this world are so amazing. I don't think there's been a group of youths who has ever faced this much pressure from so many directions. Our peers, our juniors, our parents, our teachers. We're constantly trying to please everyone, because even though we know we can't, we still don't like disappointing others, especially people we care about. We're under so much pressure to fit in, and even when we think we've fit in, we haven't. We're slowly losing this sense of individuality. We're becoming one, a homogeneous generation.

Stereotypes. Why can't I love sports and studying at the same time? Why can't I care about vanity and be intelligent? I'm not a stereotype, I'm not a number, I'm not a statistic. I'm a person. This is crazy. Although peer pressure isn't as rampant in Singapore, I believe it still causes a lot of stress to many young people out there. Low self esteem, pressure of going against what you believe in, fear of being bullied.

You are you. You are you, you are not defined by what you do, what grades you get, what your interests are. You are so much more than that, and it's okay to be just who you are. You were created as you for a reason, purpose. No one can change this, and you shouldn't feel the need to. Do what you want. You'll never get another chance. It is okay to be you. It's not just okay, it's beautiful. Society is ugly, but you aren't.

Don't live by what society expects of you. Live as yourself, live for yourself.

You are beautiful, every single one of you.