"Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you." For context, this quote is from Game of Thrones and was said by a character with dwarfism to an illegitimate son of a nobleman, and they both bond over the ostracism from society due to aspects outside of their control.

While I am not someone living with dwarfism, I can still relate much to this quote. Before and after puberty, I have always been short. Many people, including even my closest friends and family, poke fun at this insecurity, but this quote has given me the strength to embrace myself, as this is an indistinguishable and unchangeable part of my being. I cannot fret over such an unchangeable aspect and wallow in self-doubt when so many other aspects are within my control. I have realized that influencing those other things can make people see past my height. Therefore, I have to embrace this insecurity instead of living in denial because neither the world nor I will forget it. It seems I will be reminded of this aspect at every corner of my life, but if I am proud of this trait, then the taunts cannot be used to hurt me.

To turn this insecurity into pride, I have to turn to other insecurities, which I do have control over. For example, alongside being short, I have been skinny and shy all my life as well. I have come to the realization that while the former is out of my control, I can change the latter two should I wish. Therefore, I have been working on becoming more fit and social.

Participating in public speaking events like MUNs, Parliamentary debates, and club activities has made me come out of my shell and overcome one of my biggest insecurities to some degree. I have, of course, not completely gotten rid of it, but I have made significant progress in that direction. Aside from this, I have started gaining weight and started working out as well to increase my self-esteem.

I'm not suggesting you completely overlook your flaws or that I have the answers for improvement. No, the point is not to fret over things you cannot change, like your height, and focus on parts of you that you can change, for example, your knowledge base, fitness, and personality. When you do focus on things you can change, then all unchangeable shortcomings begin to become less prominent as your positive attributes overshadow your other attributes.

From personal experience, I've discovered that improving aspects within your control can lead to a greater sense of pride in who you are, even in areas beyond your control. For instance, as I developed my public speaking skills, I began to take pride in being short, realizing that despite past insecurities, I had become just as confident as my peers. This sense of accomplishment causes you to be proud of your insecurity rather than upset about it. In this way, you too can rise above your insecurities and become comfortable in your own skin.