From Shadows to Spotlight

It’s never too late to find confidence in yourself

Illustration made by the Author with the help of AI. The illustration symbolizes the courage to step into a new phase of life.

I grew up in a small community, in elementary school, we were only 60 pupils, and options for friendships were limited. With my red hair and freckles, I felt like an outsider. My personality — quiet and shy did not help either. The schoolyard should have been a place of laughter and play but became a mental battleground where I faced bullying and exclusion. This left me with little choice in forming friendships and forced me to retreat into my own fantasy world, making me even more weird. I found comfort in being alone, where nobody could judge or tease me.

It was only in high school, where I was no longer surrounded by the familiar faces of my old school, that I started making true friends who accepted me for who I am.

However, even with these new friends, I still had this nagging feeling of self-doubt.

When I started working, the lack of self-confidence followed me. I was always the one who did not dare to take up space. I did not speak in meetings unless someone asked me directly; I never initiated suggestions for changes. Surprisingly, my colleagues began to seek me out for my opinions and advice. At first, I could not believe them when they said they valued my thoughts because I seemed reflective and knowledgeable. Responding to their…