“IMAN”

This piece is based upon a girl of German and Palestinian descent, age 15

Her main quote: I know beautiful is not just on the outside, it’s on the inside too, but it’s hard because I always compare myself to other people. 

Some of her other quotes:

• probably the most difficult thing is, like, always trying to fit in and worrying about what people think of you and trying to impress people...trying to live up to other people’s expectations.

• I think girls are more afraid of failure than boys, girls are, like—I know it’s a stereotype but I’m less confident, I know. 

• A lot of guys always have big heads and are conceited with their sports and like, “Oh, I can get that girl.”  And I just think they have a lot more confidence than we do.  I don’t know why, maybe it’s their genes or our culture.  In, like, society, guys are always considered higher, stronger...like business people and CEOs are usually all men.  And that’s probably one thing that has to do with.  I don’t know, they just probably have a different mind from us, we think too much about stuff I’d say.

• I wish that people realized it is difficult to be a teenage girl!  Going through all the emotions and all the expectations...I wish the world wouldn’t just look past teenage girls.  You have to get to know us before you can judge.

• My mother is definitely a role model for me.  She’s been through so much and she’s, like, had pretty hard times in the past couple years...She’s always there for me and easy to talk to.

• Last year, I wasn’t at the weight that I wanted to be.  I thought about my weight whenever I looked in the mirror, but now I am okay with it.  I haven’t done anything different.  I think it’s, like, growing that made me change. 

• I mean, with magazines and everything, it frustrates me ‘cause they’re so pretty and so perfect that it’s like, “Oh, I just want to look like that.”  They’re not real, but magazines are kinda like the trend-setters or whatever and they definitely make you want to look like that.

• I think having a boyfriend really raises a girl’s self-esteem.  I haven’t had, like, really any boyfriends at all but, like, all my friends they seem to be more confident when they have a boyfriend.  I don’t know if it’s just because it’s like a guy that’s accepting them but they feel better, not that it’s always a good thing to have a steady boyfriend ‘cause it takes away a lot from your high school experience.

• Guys should treat girls with more respect, maybe, and not make fun of a girl ‘cause that definitely lowers her self-esteem.  Most guys try to, like, if they can, take advantage of a girl.  Not all guys are like that, but...

• I do not consider myself to be beautiful.  I don’t have much confidence in myself. 

• My faith helps me get through, like, certain situations...knowing there’s somebody watching over me...I say a prayer every night and whenever I need someone to talk to. God sees that, like, I’m trying to find a way through my teenage years and that it’s difficult, too, and God understands and loves me.