The mark I would hope to make is to encourage women to be comfortable with who they are.

I think it’s really easy, especially when you’re younger and with social media, to get caught up in this black and white idea of girls needing to fit into certain types: dresses or jeans, makeup or no makeup, girly or tomboy, happy or sad, etc… but I think that most women (and honestly just most people in general) are never just one thing, they’re a collection of many things.

For example, I myself am a hopeless romantic some days and others I’m the world's biggest cynic. Somedays I want to wear dresses and feel “girly” and watch The Bachelor, and other days I want to listen to pop punk on repeat and only wear band t-shirts.

I’ve come to learn that people are ever-changing, and I think it’s important to embrace every part of yourself, the bad and the good, and let it all live confidently on the surface. It doesn’t matter what others think, because at the end of the day, they are not the ones spending every waking moment with you, you are.

Talk to yourself and treat yourself like you would a friend you care about.

Shouldn’t you like the person you hang out with 24/7?

I think the greatest lesson I’ve learned from other women is that it’s important to speak your truth always, and that you can be respectful while doing it. Let people know how you’re feeling, say it from your point of view and be honest about how things make you feel, but be sure to also try to see things from the other person’s perspective. You’ll have a better chance at getting how you’re feeling through to others. Progress is made when everyone can understand and respect the opinions of others.

Be you, be different, be honest, and be nice to everyone you meet, you never know what people are going through.

I like to tell myself, “Be you, be different, who cares about the rest,” because at the end of the day, both the good things and the things you might not like about yourself make up who you are. Embrace them.

-Sarah Barrios

Singer, Songwriter, Musician