Reminding Panthers of their own self-worth

Photo by Kiran Foster, via flickr

Jenna Kefauver/Production Manager 

The idea behind Operation Beautiful is, well, beautiful. It’s an amazing idea to make students, male or female, feel better about themselves — especially in colleges and universities.

According to the National Institute of National Health, 30 percent of college students in 2011 reported feeling depressed enough that basic functioning was difficult. College is already a place where students are more free and less careful with their sexuality and sexual decisions, and in students with depression, this number is higher. The chance of substance abuse and suicide is also much higher. Stress and depression go hand-in-hand and the need for self-esteem is dire.

The need for not only women, but also men, to know their own self-worth is paramount. There are ads on television every day essentially telling viewers that unless they look like a Calvin Klein or a Victoria’s Secret model, they aren’t normal or good enough. That’s not true at all.

Everybody has their own beauty and they shouldn’t be afraid to show it because they think they won’t be accepted because maybe their beauty isn’t conventional.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes, people just need that reminder of the beauty they possess.

Operation Beautiful is a great way to remind everyone of the beauty within. Every time I walked into the Glenn Hubert Library and saw the post-it saying, “That morning hair just reminds me how stunning your eyes are,” I would smile and my confidence would boost. I only wish the event had been bigger. I only saw two or three post-its and then that seemed like it was it. I also wish it was more than one day long.

This should be a daily thing and everyone should know beauty.

So just remember: you’re all amazing and you’re all beautiful.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

jenna.kefauver@fiusm.com