By Karalee Kothe

BU is an ongoing series about “Being You.” I am a strong believer and supporter in the philosophy of being yourself. God gives us each unique gifts to share with the world. Being yourself means you follow your personal values, and stay true to who you are even in adversity and even with peer pressure. This may be a challenging path to take, but in the end, it is also the most rewarding choice.

Understanding that we are all different in a good way, helps us see that “different” is not bad, but is actually really cool. Through this perspective, we are able to be more compassionate of others. Not one of us is the same as another, so we should never try to be the same (don’t be average). In high school, it is common to have a need to fit in and be like everyone else. But by trying to fit in, you are denying the world of the amazing natural gifts you were born to contribute.

The ironic thing is – the more we become individuals, the more of a family this school will be. Through this column, it is my goal to feature students who are living their truth.