What are the few improvements that you noticed in yourself?

[Apulu_Imback]

Today I was scrolling through my mytakes from my old account and I was like 'Is this really the 13 yr old me? I was so terrible and confused in English!' I pointed out all the mistakes and basically started judging myself but I am proud of that younger me, for having the guts to start communicating with people and socializing more. Because of that guts, you see a confident person before you. I am less awkward and more fluent with my speaking now, even in real life! I don't stutter when those girls start a conversation with me in English. Of course I have a vast room for improvement in my communication skills but it was heart-warming to notice a small improvement, now I know that I can successfully become a fluent English speaker.

[abbyjgriffin98]

Okay, this is kind of a long story. But when I was a kid I was extremely insecure. I've always been introverted and being that introversion is looked down by many, I felt the need to try and fit in. In fact, in the 6th grade, my friends literally told me they thought I should make new friends because I didn't talk enough and it made them feel uncomfortable. I was a relatively cute little girl but because I disliked myself so much, I did not take care of myself. Puberty hit me like a brick wall. I developed a binge eating problem so I gained a lot of weight. I didn't take enough showers or take care of my oral hygiene. My skin was dry but greasy at the same time and I had a lot of acne. I had glasses and braces. I dyed my hair a lot but did not bother to take care of it so it was dry, frizzy and had a lot of split ends. Essentially, I did not take care of myself. I acted like Allison from the Breakfast Club and looked like the Asian version of Ugly Betty.

I ended up transferring schools. Due to many failed friendships, when I started at my new school as someone who did not know anyone, I decided to stop looking for friends and focus solely on myself and my school. Funny story, after the first two weeks of school, I was sitting alone under a tree eating lunch when a group of kids approached me. They asked me if they could sit on the other side of the tree. I said, "Yes." And as the days went by, slowly by slowly, I started becoming more integrated into the group. And that is how I made my first real friends. Being with a small, tight group of friends that I enjoyed, I started treating myself as less of an outcast. I definitely developed more of a personality. I had a tendency to be a bit sarcastic but down to earth. I started developing more self confidence and instead of thinking of myself as awkward and quiet, I started thinking of myself as strong and silent. My senior year, I cut my hair really short and let it grow out healthy. I got my braces off and started wearing contacts. I even started seeing a dermatologist and got my skin under control. After graduation, I stopped binge eating so I lost a lot of weight. I am only 4'10" and I graduated from high school at 135+ pounds and now I am 111lbs. I also started using nice makeup techniques that worked for me, not someone else and I started dressing in a way that flattered my figure. I used to think I was an overweight rectangle because I did not have definition in my waist but when I lost weight, I realized I am an hourglass. I also stopped pitying myself. The vast majority of the people who knew me when I was a kid do not recognize me. It is like I reinvented myself. I was like the Ugly Duckling the turned into the Beautiful Swan.

Anywho, this story is not meant to claim you have to be attractive or have a glow up to feel good about yourself. It's meant to claim when you do not feel good about yourself, you will not treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated. And if you do not treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated, it will have a measurable impact on your physical well-being, as well. That is my greatest improvement.

[Apulu_Imback]

This story is an inspiration to the teenagers who lack self confidence. Funny how people make their own life miserable by treating themselves miserably but then at a point realise that only they can change their life and finally come to the right path.

[skyee_727]

im definitely stronger than before. im starting to be able to say "no" to people. in the beginning of offline school, i was fragile as shit. i rlly think i hv learnt a lot from my mistakes too. like mistakes in social situations and studies. i never reviewed my material, so i forgot most of it, which made me suffer a lot in final exams and compelled to cover large number of chapters in a matter of few weeks since they wanna start 10th grade early. (gave math exam today, no idea if ill pass ;-;) hopefully i never do these mistakes again lol- im burnt out as shit because of this

[Apulu_Imback]

Even I started actually studying carefully since this month because of finals. I also learnt saying no for studies. I'm like let's just pass these board exams with good grades and no one will complain if I die jobless. It's the same here, they are starting the new session around late March or Early April and the finals will happen in mid February. Saying no was actually tough in beginning but yes it feels like I can do this now. It's tough to acquire this quality because old habits die hard.

[skyee_727]

frfr

[OfMiceandMen]

I made a pact with myself that I am going to try to compliment people more. I would often hold back and I want to become more assertive and hopefully brighten someone's day.

It has worked so far.

[Apulu_Imback]

This is unique and great! Hope you keep the positivity around!

[OfMiceandMen]

Cheers.👍

[SnowedIn]

34 years ago I had an English teacher tell me I should be ashamed of myself.

Twenty years after that I was writing speeches for a U. S. Navy Admiral and today I'm working on a novel.

[Apulu_Imback]

This is wonderful! A teacher should never break dreams of a student for few minor mistakes, because they will be backfired if the student is as determines as you. It would be bad for them. Is the novel available online or somewhere I can read? Which theme is it?

[SnowedIn]

I should have finished the story. That teacher became my champion and I went from hating English class my freshman year of high school to taking five of his classes including three my senior year! :)

The novel is not online yet. It's inching forward literally sentence by sentence. It is an love story spanning the globe and 40 years of a man who loves intensely -- his heart crushed twice by the same woman. He learns you can love twice. I'll leave you waiting to know who he ends up with.

Just started a second novel. That one has a title: "Falls". A young widowed man meets a much younger girl. Love ensues. Man's daughter causes a fuss while young girl gets torn between hot guy and the widower. It'll be engaging.

:)

[PBandJ_Nerd]

Helping out more often around the house (besides housework). I put whipped cream on my parents slices of pie, heated up my dad's burger when he got home for dinner one night, and I cleaned up the table & put away the food after dinner today.

[Apulu_Imback]

These small improvements in our lifestyle, brings warmness in a soul.

[PBandJ_Nerd]

I think I forgot to say I also gave the cat whipped cream too. lol

[Apulu_Imback]

Aww that's cute lol

[PBandJ_Nerd]

If I didn't, he'd bug my parents for whipped cream off of their pie.

[Apulu_Imback]

That would be a way cuter scene, lol. Jk.

[PBandJ_Nerd]

wouldn't be cute once he licks the top of the blueberry pie. 🥧

[QuietVerbena]

I’m much quieter online these days. I’ve lost interest in being noticed by people. Your English is very impressive.

[Apulu_Imback]

This is something that many people need to work on. Thanks!

[BCRanger10]

The biggest thing for me I think has been focusing on and finishing one thing at a time.

[Apulu_Imback]

Something I'm still working on, good for you.

[serious]

Nothing as of late

[Apulu_Imback]

I see

[Agape93]

Depends on what you consider an improvement

[Apulu_Imback]

Anything, I just want people to self reflect after reading this question.

[Agape93]

Ok I wasn't sure. Objectively not much. I got medicated and therapy, but stopped both. Aside that, I'm saving money and getting training for a different line of work

[Apulu_Imback]

That would count.

[Jennz6]

Not improvement, I’m getting fat

[Apulu_Imback]

In personality?

[Jennz6]

My waist size

[Saamee]

Nice