Andrew Campbell

Imagine being cut by a thousand pieces of glass. still managing to hide the wounds with a smile and the clothes you have on. the only hope is that one day the sharp objects miraculously refract and the wounds heal.

I'm Andrew Campbell and I've always been different. I was not your average boy. I did not like football, baseball, wrestling, and bragging on how many girls numbers I got at that party. Everyone around me made A's and B's . On the other hand I made C's. I was not perfect, but I worked hard at my weaknesses. For me Fashion, drawing, singing, dancing, filming was my passion. Because of that I was talked about. In school I was teased constantly. "Why do you talk like that?" "Are you gay?" "Act like a boy!" "Go outside!" "You're weird""Where's your man at?"

PEOPLE made me feel like a creature, like I wasn't good enough. I cried many nights in my room. Of course I did not tell my parents because I did not want to disappoint them. Even if they saw fit to taunt me. I had aunts down my throat saying "don't draw girls all the time" "Play football" "Put some bass in your voice". I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. I felt like a science experiment one who was beautiful to the Creator, but a freak to the public. Over time I began to internalize what people said about me as a result I changed. I took what they said as the truth. I lost what made me unique. Attached to my hands and feet were imaginary string. I was a puppet in a horrible joke.

I looked myself in the mirror staring back at me was a face I no longer recognized. One day my Mom called me into the living room. She told me I was different from Everyone else. God blessed me with enormous talents and I should use them all. I remember her saying you are unique like no other. Not knowing what I was going through she spoke words of encouragement. As only a mom could, she knew what I was going through without a word being told to her.

With her words the chains that bound me were broken. Through color of gray gently faded away I prayed on the situation and felt so much better. That different and unusual kid came back. I realized I was different for a reason. I learned to be my self no matter what people said. I am original and cannot be replaced.

Being myself has gotten me a lot of positive attention. Academically I have been working harder than I've ever been. God created everyone for a reason. We are blessed to stand out for different purposes. I realized that I am more than what people make of me. I am what my father says I am, and I am a child of a King.