We live in a society where perfection seems to be more important than character, integrity or originality.
This competitive spirit that resides in us sometimes means clawing out the eyes of our competitors, hiring hit men to get to the top or turning our backs on friendship; and many of us can't get that fire in our bodies to do so. This lack of rivalry may push us away from what we really want. As college students, our parents and peers push us to become people that we should be, when all we want to do is fall into the life that appeals to us.
Coming from a very imperfect person, I am a firm believer that imperfection is romantic.
What does somebody do when they have "B+ Syndrome?"
I'd define someone with B+ Syndrome as a person who always comes inches away from really succeeding, reaching their ultimate goals, but ends up watching everyone around them achieving these certain deeds.
There is always someone better. Someone thinner or prettier. Someone stronger, faster, smarter. Someone, well, luckier. I think defining defeat as a stroke of bad luck can really help save someone's sanity. They don't need to know that they really aren't athletic, talented or good-looking.
Now the real question is, how do B+ Syndrome strugglers come out alive?
First and foremost, I laugh at myself daily. Quoting the film "Garden State," "If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna seem a whole lot longer than you like."
Amen.
There is little positive that can come out of taking life too seriously.
Recently spending six weeks in New York City, striving to become a really good actor, I took 20 hours of dance a week at New York University. Walking into an arena such as this with any ego whatsoever will quickly put you in line. My attempt to succeed in an advanced ballet class came tumbling down when I, too, fell on my face in front of a pack of very hungry girls.
Naturally, I wanted to cry and crawl under a ballet barre (what good is that?) but I took the high road and laughed at my lack of grace.
And if anything, it makes a fantastic story the next day.
Embrace your quirks and flaws. Someone once complimented my insecurities as being cute, so I went with that.
Why stop eating to become "pretty" when you love chocolate cake and carbs?
Wouldn't you want to surround yourself with people who like your originality?
Usually you're the only one who thinks of them as flaws in the first place. Those quirks we talk about are what separate us from all the unoriginal "perfect" people out there. Accepting the fact that you are pigeon-toed, snort when you laugh, get really excited for ER reruns at 10 am after your aerobics class or enjoy only communicating through Facebook is completely and totally you.
If you look around the room, there is no one in there who is like you. There are things that you can bring to the table that no one else ever will or could.
After all, snorting is charming.
Now, doesn't that make you A+?
Chelsea Picken is a sophomore musical theater major and writes 'A Shot In The Dark' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Chelsea at cppicken@bsu.edu
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