Step Two- I realized that I'm not always the underdog. I always thought that I was. I never was sorry for myself, but I always thought that I was the bottom of the barrel at everything, and that is not the truth. I didn't realize that. I thought that people complimented me because they felt sorry for me. That was also, not true, and so I started to look at myself like a contender in everything that I did.

Step Three-  The hardest, but best part, was when I received a compliment for the first time that I took well. I got told by a friend of mine, Ella, you are seriously beautiful and smart. And I said thank you. Not, "No, I'm not, but you're totally gorgeous," and I didn't look away and blush and just shake it off. I smiled and said the two words I could never say to someone giving me a compliment. 

Step Four- This part is the easiest part by far, but it still takes effort. I decided to keep up with everything I learned. It's been tough and sometimes I can hear myself nagging at me to deny myself when I get a compliment, but it hasn't happened yet. I also started complimenting other people more because I noticed that not everyone thought like I used to when they get a compliment. That is the most fun thing EVER.

NOTE: The picture below is me receiving an honors award at my school. The award is for students who have an average in all of their core of above 85%. Mine was 90%, and it was the first time I was truly proud of myself. It was the fourth time I'd received the award.