under pressure

As a healthy-living blogger, I am supposed to have a healthful relationship with food. I should be an example of a balanced eater and consistent exerciser, and it is assumed that I will be compatible and best of friends with every other blogger in the community.

As an intern, I should always have a smile on. It’s expected that I will be excited about each and every task put before me and that I will do my absolute best to fulfill them. And, of course, I must be ridiculously flexible and willing to please at any moment.

As a woman I feel pressured to be and do everything: fun, mature, good-natured, stylish, talented, attractive, sincere, easy-going, patient, intelligent, understanding, capable, friendly, ever-so-slightly opinionated, affectionate, strong, creative, sexy, confident but not too much, optimistic, honest, intriguing, thoughtful, playful, and thin.

As a 4^th-year student, I should, for lack of a better phrase, have “all of my shit together.” I assumingly have a career plan and am ready to embark on it. I am expected to continue doing well in school while also “partying it up while I still can.” I am supposed to constantly be school-spirited, involved, and love everything that is college until graduation, then I'll just miss it.

As a “minority”-American, I feel as though it’s my responsibility to set a good example for the stereotype, to appreciate differences in every person I meet, and to expose myself, and others, to all of the beautiful diversity that the world has to offer.

But as a friend, and a well-established one at that, there’s pressure no more. I am allowed to be me. I am appreciated for the perfectionist yet imperfect person that I am, and all flaws are forgiven in exchange for my strengths. Being with friends is always the perfect antidote for a stressful life, as is a fantastic time with wine at Terroir. Hasta manana, my loves!