Everyone’s looking at me.
I’m annoying.
Do you think they notice my hair/outfit/teeth/shoes/skin?
One of the biggest insecurities among teens is looks, including body image. Other concerns include social status and failure. Teens are always worrying about something–maybe even whether they are an oddball for worrying at all! But nearly every single person on Earth has at least one major insecurity. Everybody has at least one thing they worry about daily, not realizing that everyone is perfect just the way they are. Besides, no one is really paying attention to you, because they are too worried about their own problems.
Insecurity is normal, but you don’t have to let it define you. You can be insecure about something and still be an amazing person. Everyone is perfect and amazing in their own way. Life is a struggle and it’s long and rough. Kids bully and pick on others; it’s not funny, but it happens. Ironically, a bully may target someone for the very insecurity they themselves suffer. Realize that if you’re insecure about something, that doesn’t make you different or weird. It’s all normal. East students were eager to weigh in on the phenomenon of self-doubt.
Freshmen
Emily Hudson’s biggest insecurity is her side profile, even though no one has made fun of it. Meanwhile, Dravon Ambler’s biggest insecurities are his hair, because of how straight it is, and his body because he describes himself as “a little chubby,” and because he has been made fun of about his weight before. Frank Obermeyer said that while his biggest insecurity is his handwriting because it is sloppy and hard to read, he thinks most teens worry about acne because so many of them have had their skin affected by puberty.
Sophomores
Jacob Barker’s biggest insecurity is being really tall, because he hits his head on a lot of things. He said he has been made fun of about this before, and that people have called him “Tree.” Michael Johnson worries about his nose because people have made fun of it. Madison Camden pointed out that her teeth are not all the same length, which makes her feel insecure. Although no one has made fun of her, Lacy Patriacca struggles with being a taller girl. She believes that their figure is a teen’s biggest insecurity, because their peers can be “really judgey people.”
Juniors
Jace Obermeyer’s biggest insecurity is his lazy eye, because it looks weird to him. He said he has been made fun of for his eye before. Owen Romero has been made fun of for his nose, which he describes as “super long.” Skylar Shockley lacks confidence in the way she looks and how she dresses. “This is mostly because of social media and the pressure it puts on people. I always worry if I look all right, or if everyone is laughing behind my back.”
Seniors
Ashton Mentz has been made fun of for being a people-pleaser, so he is self-conscious about that personality trait. Jenna Groves thinks that the biggest insecurity among teens–specifically girls–is their body confidence. “It feels as though there’s so much pressure to always be thinner or curvier,” Groves said. “Social media also influences this because when we look at the highlight reel of others we feel like we should look that way all the time.”
East students interviewed expressed the opinion that young people should train themselves not to worry so much about their appearance and other insecurities. Barker noted that “Nobody is perfect,” and Jace Obermeyer said that thinking badly of yourself is “just the devil trying to get to you.” Don’t worry about your appearance, Ambler advised. “Just stay in your own lane.” According to Mentz, “There’s a purpose and a reason” [for one’s appearance], while Groves said, “Your appearance will never be as important as your heart. Your kindness speaks volumes about you in comparison to how you look.”
Regarding how insecurities begin and are perpetuated, nearly every student interviewed expressed how damaging it is for teens to compare themselves to others, and echoed Groves’ and Shockley’s observations about how social media acts to intensify insecurities. Shockley said she thinks that social media has a big impact on insecurities and advertising because “people see, people buy.”
Also, did you notice how many students interviewed said that they have been made fun of for something?
“Bullying continues insecurities” Johnson said. He believes that teens should not worry about their appearance because “your looks don’t define you as a person.”
Insecurities are not the special province of teens. Adults struggle with confidence, too. Coach Ray Lee, shared that his biggest insecurity is failure, and he thinks that teens fear failure as well, because people poke and make comments. Lee believes that the start of an insecurity is “Having a feeling you didn’t prepare for enough.” Regarding looks, Lee’s advice is that teens shouldn’t worry about their appearance because “It’s not the appearance that makes the man, it’s the man that makes the appearance.”
It may feel like you’re the only one who feels insecure and that everyone is pointing you out, but how many others do you think feel the same way you do? Many of your peers share your same insecurities. Insecurities are normal–there is nothing wrong with having one–but Satan’s goal is to destroy your ability to love people and yourself, because that ability is what makes you love Jesus most. Never let anyone steal your happiness. Just remember that when you feel you’re hanging on by a thread, make sure it’s the hem of His garment.
The judgments and insults someone else throws at you tell you exactly where their insecurities and pain are in their own life. Insecurities come when we find our “identity” in anything but God. When people think of an insecurity they immediately think of their bodies. They think they’re not good enough because they’re not thin enough or not strong enough or not pretty enough. DO NOT compare yourself to others. It will get you absolutely nowhere and you will feel awful. Everyone is different and you will never look like them, so don’t worry. You are perfect for yourself. You are perfect for the right person and the people who love you. Don’t sweat about what you look like because in reality absolutely no one cares, and if they do then that’s their problem. Insecurities are part of life, but don’t let them bring you down. We care too much about ourselves sometimes and don’t see the bigger picture of reality. The devil wants you to pay attention to your feelings, but Jesus wants you to pay attention to His truth. People shame others for having dirty feet. Jesus kneels to wash them.
Imagine all the things we could be if we weren’t controlled by insecurity.
– Poet Bridgett Devoue
“Your worth does not grow when you reach a certain achievement or look a certain way. Your worth changes when you find your value in an infallible creator instead of an insufficient world.”
– Blogger Micaela Lauryl
