You Are the Prize: Embracing Your Worth in Relationships
I officially have two teenage girls in high school. My oldest, Maddie, is now a senior, and my middle, Ava, is a freshman.
Maddie has had an incredible experience, thanks entirely to her decision to work hard and keep her nose clean, her friend group of phenomenal young women, and the school's culture where it's cool to be "the smart girl."
It has been the polar opposite of the viscousness she experienced in middle school, a world Ava is sprinting out of without glancing back. The grade school years were miserable for both of them.
So we’ve been reflecting on the past as we prepare Ava for a new chapter and Maddie for her last.
The one thing I keep telling them, as we talk about how to have the best possible experience, how to be and stay a good friend, an inclusive classmate, and a team leader, is not to compromise our integrity or dumb ourselves down to fit in because it NEVER works.
I tell the girls that it's easy to forget a fundamental truth, whether it’s platonic or romantic relationships: you are the prize.
Someone doesn't like you? Not your problem.
Are you getting bullied? It has nothing to do with you.
You're not someone's cup of tea? You will be for someone else.
This isn't about arrogance or self-centeredness but about recognizing and embracing your inherent value. Understanding that you bring unique qualities, strengths, and perspectives transforms how you approach relationships.
This got me thinking about how I WISH I understood this sooner in my own life. I eventually got it, but IMAGINE knowing this as a teenager?
This concept was at the core of all of my decisions.