Push Forward

Each and every day, I feel it. The constant reminder that I am not perfect. The pressure to succeed is everywhere.

To succeed as a woman. To work out, eat healthy, look beautiful. Dress impeccably. Smile radiantly. Every strand of hair falling perfectly in place, like a flawless goddess. Some women go to extreme lengths to succeed as a woman. Plastic surgery. Liposuction. Nothing will ever be good enough. Perfection that is unimpossible, unimaginable.. That is what it means to be a woman.

To succeed as a daughter. School. Books, papers, reports. Ink and paper swim and float across my vision. I am reminded of the hardships my parents faced as they shaped a small home in a large country they knew nothing about. The promise of a better life for their children. So everyday, the expectations.. As the eldest child, I am the prime example for my younger siblings. Work hard. Graduate. Find a job that pays well. Marry a rich, handsome man—one that my parents will approve of. Live happily ever after. That is what it means to be a daughter.

To succeed as a human. To find a purpose in life. To live and walk the earth is not enough. One must make an impact in some way—small or other. Advancing mankind and making the world a better place. Improving relations between countries. Finding a cure for a disease. Fostering a world where peace is possible, attainable. Becoming a well-rounded and self-aware individual. That is what it means to be a human.

Beauty. Intelligence. Compassion. Curiosity. So much to live up to. To become. There is a small voice in the back of my mind. Each day, every day, a small whisper. Reminding me. Always reminding me. That I must succeed. That I must not stay stagnant. Punishing me every time I fail to resist temptation.

Until when will I become satisfied with where I am in life? Even now, I know that I am lucky, privileged to be where I am and yet… It will never be enough for me. Never be enough for those around me.