I feel like I’ve built up this persona of always being positive and always being happy, and I worried if my audience sees me not in that light, will they think less of me? Will they discredit me? Will I just be nothing? Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
My original plan was to graduate high school and major in computer engineering at college. That went out the window, and I said, ‘I have to do something with speaking.’ Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
I experienced bullying as early as the first day of kindergarten and there were times where I wish could escape out of my body. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
But I have the most incredible support system in the world. They let me have those times when I just want to cry. But I give myself a deadline and say, today’s my sad day but tomorrow when the sun comes up it’s done. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
I’ve met so many people who have come up to tell me their personal stories, and a lot of them express the same feelings that I have, especially reading things online. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
But after the TED talk went viral, I called Sara Hirsh Bordo, who had produced TEDxAustinWomen, to ask her advice. She told me she’d like to do a documentary, and that we should work together on anti-bullying efforts. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
Having to look a certain way, or be a certain weight, comes from magazines, movies, the media. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
One thing I did was to create a Love Yourself List. I wrote down everything I like about myself, and put it on my bathroom mirror. Then I read it until I believed it. Any time I compared myself to others, and felt negative about myself, I’d go back to that list. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote
Bullying needs to have more attention, and there needs to be more open communication in schools to make kids feel comfortable enough to speak up. Lizzie Velasquez Read Quote