I Want to Be
Written by Krystal

I don’t want to be statistically another lost woman known as a returnee. I just want to be happy, free, loved, and known to be me, beautifully.  How come in these times no one is ever who they claim to be? Why when it comes to the real, no one can be themselves honestly?! What’s so wrong with being who you really are? Be who you see in the mirror; that will truly take you for!!!

I do understand all too well what it’s like not to love yourself. I was once that girl. And I must say, those moments weren’t fun. But with time comes growth; (and it sure took a lot of time). And with growth, you gain wisdom and understanding. You gain the knowledge of what you truly deserve; your self-worth is clearer, and your bleeding soul is sealed.

It took a long time for me to learn that not everyone is your best interest and not everyone has your best interest. Growth and wisdom help to determine who and what is good for you. Who will inject your life or who will affect your life in a good way… I want to be a woman that can affect people’s lives in a good way. I want to change lives even if it’s just telling them to have a nice day. I want to give back and help women discover their self-worth.

I want to help them understand that together we’re so much bigger than the hurt.

I want to encourage you girls to learn from my mistakes and get them off the streets and back into the schools. I want to stand for something! I want to bring families together, instead of splitting them up. I want to be a role model. I want to be more than just my post. I want to be a woman who did amazing things to help others to be just as amazing… And when people remember me, they will say “She was Beautiful!” because I Am Beautiful!

This was written by Krystal, and inmate, for the “I Am Beautiful” book series and published in Volume 5.