LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE.

Hi, my name is Amber. I'm a 18 year old senior, and this is the story of how rejection literally turned my life around.

Ever since I was in the fourth grade, I've had a crush on a boy, (let's call him Jack). When I was in the sixth grade, I befriended Jack, in hopes that he would become my boyfriend. I was so shy, that I never got around to asking him about a relationship.

It's also worth mentioning in middle school, I was a fair size, but I had a good metabolism, so I didn't eat very well, and I ran track and cross country.

By my eight grade year, I still had a huge crush on Jack. Since I was still shy, I finally sent my friend out to ask. So one Saturday, she asked him. When he said no, she called to tell me. I was fairly upset, but what she didn't tell me, was that she had asked in front of ALL OF HIS FRIENDS. So I went to school the following day, and by lunch, almost the whole school knew. It was probably the longest day of my life. People teased me, and someone went as far to write me a note that had Jack, with a big heart around. I went home, and I cried until I physically could not make anymore tears. For the rest of the school year, I practically talked to no one.

Before I knew it, it was summer. I had gained almost ten pounds from poor eating and lack of exercise. It hit me the day that my family and I went to the beach with my family. I was gaining weight. I thought I hated the way I looked. But then I realized, I actually didn't. I had one the cutest blue bikini, and that was the first time I had truly looked in the mirror and realized I loved myself. I realized that I didn't need someone to hold my hand to tell me I'm beautiful. I WAS beautiful. I AM beautiful.

By my 10th grade year, I lost all the weight on my stomach and the rest of my body. I worked out nearly everyday. I had ABS. (They were faint, but they were there!) I was probably the healtiest person in the grade. People called me "smiley" because of how much I smiled. 10th grade homecoming came around, and Jack came to ask me. Before he asked he said something like, "I wish I would've said yes to you in the eighth grade." I told him bluntly that I'm glad he said no. I said that him saying no to me was the best thing that ever happened to me. He looked at me confused, but that was all I said to him. (Besides turning down his invitation to the dance)

Now I'm eighteen years old, a member of the National Honor Society, Competitive Cheer Team Captain, and I'm going to attend Law School next fall.

What I would like to share with all young girls is that rejection is not the end of the world, it could very well be the start of a whole new one.