Hi, my name is Savanna. I am 17 years old and in 11th grade at Buford High School. Some days are hard for me as I struggle with loving myself. In order to truly be myself I need to work on my self-concept.

My whole life people were always mean to me and didn't accept me the way I was. They always called me names and talked about me behind my back. I still have this problem to date and its hard hearing those negative comments.

I've always wondered why people didn't like my personality, but I soon found out. It was because of my beliefs, because I was smart, and because I was a Christian. I felt like I always had a target on my back, and didn't belong where I was. I felt that I had to be someone I wasn't to fit in with others.

Multiple times I was lonely and had no social interaction with anyone because I was scared of what was to come. I really struggled with this mainly in school, but recently at church, as I felt unwanted. It was almost as if I didn't matter to anyone. This feeling I had every day made my self-esteem drop. 

Everyday I was consumed by all these thoughts and feelings. I didn't know how to handle all the emotions. There were days where I would cry and feel like there was no hope, but there were also days where I felt invincible.

I was tired of having bad days and not loving myself. I knew I had to make a change in myself in order to be happy. I started to think and focus on all the good in my life, things started slowly starting to get better.

I felt like that really wasn't enough for me. I could do better. I needed joy in my life everyday, not just most days. I started focusing on growing in my faith, because in order to grow myself I needed God. I began putting Him first in my life by praying, reading the bible, and letting God take control of my life.

There were days where I felt like I had failed God, because I didn't prioritize time with him, or when I never even thought about Him. I didn't feel I was where I needed to be as his child. But I soon realized that as I was struggling, God  was working in me and carried me through the hard times. I needed to focus on what is to come and not the past.

As I started to trust God more and grow in my faith I started journaling and making truth walls in my room, filled with bible verses and encouraging words. I have one wall that is really special to me that I had recently made. It says, I am who God says I am and its surrounded with words God uses to describe me.

These walls are a daily reminder to love myself and help me know that God is in control of my life. It shows me that I am worthy and have a purpose.