The first #beTRUEtoYOU challenge winner is…

December 5, 2012 -
15 comments, add yours

I just want to start off by saying that the entries
I’ve received were overwhelming – in a GOOD way!

beTRUEtoYOU-800

I appreciate every single entry and the honesty, time,
& focus that it took to send me your #beTRUEtoYOU story.

You are all amazing & I honestly can’t say that enough.

When it comes to the winner –
YOU ARE ALL WINNERS
in my book.

But unfortunately, I’m not Oprah & can’t hand out 1,000 of my favorite things.
One day I hope to be able to do that though. Winking smile

Honestly, there are NO LOSERS
when you are being TRUE TO YOURSELF!

With that being said, this is the FIRST #beTRUEtoYOU challenge,
which means there WILL be more!

In the end, it wasn’t only just about winning a really cool hoodie,
it was also about finding YOU.

So I want to thank Under Armour for their awesome gift

UA hoodie

[source]


& also thank all of you for being honest.
For those who didn’t enter-
thank you for taking the time to read this!

Everyone’s story was amazing &
I cannot wait to FEATURE YOU ALL at some point on the blog!

You deserve for people to see your story so you can INSPIRE others,
because I know you will!

So the winner of the hoodie is the wonderful Rachel.

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Here is her story:

“Ever since I was little, I was seen as different.
I have something called adrenal insufficiency.
My adrenal glands don’t work the way they are supposed to
and my body makes too much of certain hormones.

This may seem like it’s not that big of a deal,
but with my situation my condition shows.

Because of my condition, I have excess hair on my arms.
It is darker, thicker, and longer than most people’s,
and as a young girl in today’s society that isn’t very normal.

As a little kid it never really bothered me.
It didn’t bother me until I moved in third grade.
At my new school, I was judged.
Kids would look at me funny and make fun of me.

This has gone on ever since.
Kids have called me names like Chewbaca, gorilla girl,
and I was even told that I wasn’t a person at all.

Everywhere I go there is always someone judging me.
Every year I never had the same friends.
Even my “friends” made fun of me.

I let kids pick on me all throughout elementary school and part of junior high.
I was shy. My mom was worried. I couldn’t keep living like this.

We came up with a solution.

When I was little I took dance classes, but after we moved I gave it up.
My mom thought that I should try it again so I did.

Dance was a way for me to express myself and just be me.

I began to crack out of my shell.
Dance, especially ballet,
made me feel beautiful.

Before then everyone had been telling me that I wasn’t,
but through ballet I realized that they were wrong and what they thought didn’t matter.

I came to the realization that the only person that I have to please in life is myself.

I didn’t need to care about pleasing others.

Before I started dancing again, I was so embarrassed of my arms, that I got the hair lasered off.

It was painful.

After dancing,
I realized that I had put myself through pain for nothing.

Beauty is on the inside.

I became a lot more confident in myself.

I became even more beautiful when I spent my whole summer
between my sophomore and junior year earning my EMT certification.

I now volunteer as a certified EMT at my local EMS station.

Now how is that beautiful?

I have always been caring and compassionate,
but now I was sharing that with others.

I plan on becoming a nurse and the experience really helps.

Knowing that I feel beautiful and worthy makes me happy.

I’m being true to me by not letting what other people say and think rule me
I am who I am and by going out and using my gifts of compassion and caring to help others.
I am me and that’s who I plan to be.
I’m not anyone else
and I plan on staying true to me.”

beTrueToYouBTN-400x130

Thank you so much for being so honest Rachel.
I truly believe that everyone can learn from your story and apply it to their life!

We are all different but our
differences can help each other.

Thank you for making the first #beTRUEtoYOU challenge a total success!

 

Category: beTRUEtoYOU, Blog, FitFluential

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15 responses to “The first #beTRUEtoYOU challenge winner is…”

  1. Mary Kate B. says:

    This is incredible–congrats Rachel on both winning the sweatshirt and for staying true to you! Make sure you post a picture of yourself in your new sweatshirt–no one deserves it more 🙂

  2. Thaila Skye says:

    Well done, Rachel! An amazing story and totally deserved! <3

  3. Jess says:

    I think Rachel honestly deserves to win this.

    If you’re reading the comments Rachel, screw the children who made fun of you. I only wish I’d been around at your school to defend you and make those kids realise just how vile and judgemental they were being. I empathise so much with your condition – I have severe eczema which is usually kept under control, but I can’t shave my arms or legs (or wax/use hair removal creams) or I’ll have painful, tight, red and weeping skin. I can’t wear most fabrics either, but the hair is what makes me feel really self-conscious, particularly in the gym. I am lucky enough to have very fair/blonde hair but I still put myself through pain shaving under my arms because that’s the one part I can’t bear to leave.

    Anyway, the point is that when I saw your photos, before I even read your story, I thought you were stunning. I don’t compliment people on their looks unless I really mean it, but to me you look like you have the grace and poise to be the belle of every ball.

    • Kasey says:

      Jess, thank you so much for supporting Rachel! She is an unbelievable girl & totally deserves everything she works for. She is beautiful on the inside and out! Thank you again, Jess. I bet Rachel appreciates your support!

    • Rachel says:

      Jess you are so sweet! It really means a lot to me that you support me and understand what I’ve gone through. Thank you for being beautiful and true to you!

  4. Rachel says:

    I really wish you all could win something as well. If I could split the hoodie up somehow I would. Thank you PowerCakes for having a contest to showcase others and how they are true to who they are. Thank you all for your support! You all are truly amazing people! This is the first time that I’m sharing my story so this is a huge deal for me. I’m so glad that others shared theirs too. Sometimes it’s not an easy thing. I really can’t wait to read the stories of others. Everyone can be inspiring. It’s good to know that there are people who will support you and not judge you. Congratulations to everyone for participating. We are all winners. I hope you guys will even share your stories on here too. I would love to see them and I know others will too. Thank you PowerCakes again! You truly inspire me and I can’t thank you enough for all that you taught me! Thank you to everyone for the awesome support! You guys are the best! <3
    #BeTruetoYou

  5. Marisa says:

    Love the story!! Congrats Rachel!

  6. Sarah says:

    Rachel you are awesome! I wish all young girls could love themselves as much as you do. You are an inspiration to girls everywhere. If your story touches only one person and makes them feel more comfortable with who they are, you have accomplished more than most people will in a lifetime.

    • Rachel says:

      Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! I am so glad that I can inspire others. I am so blessed. Thank you for your love and support!

  7. This story is absolutely incredible. Rachel, you are SUCH an inspiration to all of us. You are living a life of love, compassion, and authenticity according no one else but YOU! That is such a blessing. Can’t wait to see you rockin’ that gorgeous hoodie! Sending love and blessings your way, Rachel! xo

    • Rachel says:

      Aww! Thank you so much! I am truly blessed! Thank you for your love, support, and blessings. I really appreciate it! Don’t worry I will definitely post a picture of me rocking the hoodie! ❤

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