The Weight of Perfection

The Strain of Being the ''Perfect'' Daughter''

From the moment you could hold a pencil, you were the responsible one. The daughter who never came home with a bad report card, the daughter who never caused a fuss at school.

Your parents never needed to hover over you, reminding you to finish your homework you had done it before they even thought to ask. You were the kid who needed no supervision, no nudging, no do-overs.

You soon discovered how to navigate the world on your own. You were smart and bold and competent the kinds of assets that turned into both your strength and your burden.

Whereas other kids pushed boundaries, you stayed inside them. While some had trouble finding the motivation, yours came from deep inside. You were a dream, basically, and adults praised you, and teachers marveled over you, and your parents, for once, never had to worry.

But being the ''perfect'' child has its own quiet, invisible burden. The burden of expectations both those imposed by others, and yourself. Because if you've always been the one who gets it right, the one who never fails, it's tough to admit when you're unsure.

But now, standing on the threshold of adulthood, you're staring at existential crises you never expected. Questions about the future weigh heavily, and for the first time, you're not always certain of the answers.

The certainty that used to define you starts to waver, and doubt creeps in now and then.

But what you do know is you have always figured out how to address whatever life throws your way. Maybe not all at once. Perhaps not without some uncomfortable struggles.

But you always do. Because your nature and resilience are just like responsibility always was. And while you may not be a child who was the top student in school with an easy smile, you are something much stronger now you are someone who keeps on fighting.