"See,” cried the youngest, “there is a new one;” and the rest were delighted, and ran to their father and mother, dancing and clapping their hands, and shouting joyously, “There is another swan come; a new one has arrived.” Then they threw more bread and cake into the water, and said, “The new one is the most beautiful of all; he is so young and pretty.” And the old swans bowed their heads before him. Then he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds. Even the elder-tree bent down its bows into the water before him, and the sun shone warm and bright. Then he rustled his feathers, curved his slender neck, and cried joyfully, from the depths of his heart, “I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.”
Hans Christian Andersen I'll admit that I wasn't the best looking girl in grade school (I'm still not the best looking now). But I remember each and every person that made me feel less than in that time. And it’s funny now because all I get from those same people is flattery. Where were your compliments when people were making fun of me? Having popular guys call me and pretend to be interested. I know, I know exactly where those compliments are. They are with the "pretty" girls who now don’t have that amazing shape. They are with the "pretty" girls that have a couple kids and a few different fathers. (And don't come for me if that's you. We simply decided to make different decisions.) They are with the "pretty" girls with no career, no drive, and no aspirations. They are with the "pretty" girl that pretty much fell off. While I don’t despise you all, and I'll take every good thing you have to say about me with a smile, I'll never forget how you made me feel. Yes, you were only being human, responding to the world how you felt deserving but please be aware of the one who is not like you. Not like the others, not what you think they should be. Be very aware of the ugly duckling.
