Expectations, with Coco Fleming

5 Minutes of Peace

Today's guest is Coco Fleming, who shares her original poem, "Expectations" about the thoughts of teenage girls.

Expectations

By: Coco Fleming

Every day I overhear girls talking negatively about themselves. Saying things like, my hair looks so bad today, or does this top look okay? Because I think I look ugly. So I wrote this for all the girls:

1. Wake up, pull yourself out of your bed then put on an outfit that fits all of the trends, so you're not the odd one out.

2. Put on some makeup. So you can fit in and feel confident in your own skin. You can’t even recognize yourself at this point.

3. Go to school, just to feel like everyone is judging you at every second of the day. You are constantly getting told to cover up or show more skin. Be more confident in yourself. Your thinking to yourself will I ever be good enough?

4. You must get good grades. But not perfect grades because then you are called a nerd.

5. Eat some food. Make sure it’s not too much food or you will be called an animal. But if you eat too little you will be called skin and bones. Why am I not perfect?

6. You're looking around at the other girls thinking to yourself, I wish I had her eyes, I wish I had her body, I wish I had her clothes, I wish more boys liked me, I wish I was her.

7. Do some form of exercise even if you don’t feel like it, just so you can be comfortable in your own body. You don't even know what you're doing with your life. Will I ever be enough for this world? My brother once said “Give a compliment everyday, because you might just save someone's life.” Always remember that you are beautiful. And you are enough! They say that no one is perfect but you are your own perfect.