I couldn’t resist any longer. The itch was unbearable. Pulling up my sleeves, I clawed at my forearms, leaving streaks of red where my nails trailed. I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this, but it was too late. “You’re bleeding!” “Is it contagious?” asked my shocked kindergarten classmate. It was my first day of school, and I wanted to hide in shame. But there was nowhere to go.
I’ve been afflicted with eczema my whole life, and I used to try to conceal it. It was a physical burden and a social barrier that had impacted my self-perception and confidence. Eczema is a condition where the skin becomes irritated, resulting in intense itching, and an unconscious imperative to dig and tear at my skin, leaving the tissue scarred and weathered. As a child, my parents and pediatrician required me to wear turtlenecks and long clothing to prevent scratching. I was always concerned about what others thought of my off-season attire, but I was more embarrassed about how they would react to seeing my blotchy skin. This physical barrier became a social obstacle that limited me from fully expressing myself to others. For the longest time, I was unable to maintain eye contact with anyone for the fear their judging my physical appearance. When I realized that I was allowing eczema to define
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During my freshman year, I challenged myself and ran for class treasurer. I stood on a stage and delivered a speech to my entire class. It was a nerve-racking experience presenting in front of my classmates. I was so worried about those who would stare and snicker about my skin, but it was all in my head. Instead, I found that people actually wanted to support and befriend me. I began to realize that my mind was my only adversary. Although I lost the position to another classmate, the election was one of those so-called “epiphanies”. It opened the door to a much more meaningful high school