When someone treats you like you're not good enough, ignore them. If you meet someone who says your idea will never work or that your efforts are being wasted, run in the opposite direction. Accept that these people will never understand your passion or your dreams and move on from them and do not look back. Never let their negativity affect you or your positive thought process. When I hear the words "no" I know that I am only speaking with the wrong person and you should remember the same the next time a door closes. You have the desire to succeed and deserve to be surrounded by others with the same drive; a commitment to your goals is something to be proud of. You are the better person for living in possibility, for living with the hope and knowledge that one day you will achieve something great. 

Hi Clara!

First off, thank you so much for writing. My daughter is also starting college in September. We are so proud of her, and I bet your family is very proud of you, as well. I was proud of you when I read this message. Based on your note, I can see you are very determined, which is first step to accomplishing your goals. You are almost there!

College is a great time to explore different careers and life purposes. I encourage you to take advantage of your elective classes and really choose based on your interests. If you’re interested in modeling, maybe a speech class can help give you confidence? Or a photography class can show you how beauty is seen from the other side of the lens. People see beauty in different ways, so it’s important to appreciate how others interpret it.