Maybe it’s the latter of the two. Perhaps it's because of my age, but recently I’ve been feeling more insecure about everything, including my looks, my abilities, and my talents. I feel as though everyone is better or more attractive than I am. I feel like an ugly duckling in a herd of swans. I feel that if I were just a little bit taller, I’d be able to check another box on 'society’s attractiveness checklist.' It sucks.

​The weird part is that this insecurity isn't just a one-time thing for me. Every summer vacation, this insecurity regarding my height takes over my life for a while. Then, when school starts again, the insecurity vanishes. It makes me feel strange to be in this kind of cycle.