Earrings: a jewelry piece that every little girl dreams of wearing… except if you have a fear of needles, which is how I felt all throughout my childhood. I never had my ears pierced, and many of my childhood friends thought it was the craziest thing! They would look at me weird and wonder why I hadn’t just sucked it up and gotten over my fear of needles, but I just did not have the desire to feel a needle going through my ear. I was also a dancer for 13 years of my life, and, as a part of the costume, earrings had to be worn. Obviously, I had to wear something, so I wore clip-ons, even when the youngest girls on my dance team would be wearing real earrings. In a majority of the things I participated in, the fact that I did not have my ears pierced was brought up. It never really bothered me, it was just who I was as an individual.
The times changed, however, in May of 2015. I had just gone through a breakup with my first boyfriend, and I was feeling heartbroken. I knew that I could not feel this way forever, and I needed to do something that would make me feel stronger. Some girls believe in changing their hairstyle; I believed in getting over my fear of needles and piercing my ears. In July, two of my closest friends and I decided to get our ears pierced together! My fears of needles were definitely surfacing as I saw the gun that would put a hole in my ear, but I got it done. I faced my fear.
I look back on why I got my ears pierced, and, yes I know it was at a late age considering some children get theirs done before they can speak a word, but I am so glad that I got it done when I did. As an 18 year old getting ready to go off to college, I wanted to do something for me, not for anyone else. I wanted to make myself feel stronger, more confident, and more beautiful. Every single time that I look in the mirror, my eyes dart to my ears. I always feel so much more beautiful with my earrings, and, with them in, I walk with my head held a little higher.
At the beginning of my summer before freshman year of college, I was a mess. My spirit was at an all time low, and my confidence was shattered. Piercing my ears opened up a whole new door for me. I began to be more confident, not only in my appearance, but in my abilities as a human being. I now wake up smiling more, and I couldn’t be happier that I decided to get my ears pierced. Such a small accessory has turned me into a more confident person. Always remember: don’t let fears hold you back. It may take a long time to get over them, but once you do, they will only turn you into a more confident individual!