I have put up about 150 messages on the bathroom mirrors around campus. These messages include quotes to make women feel better about themselves. This is my second year doing this project. This year I worked with Emma Squires (who is also a Peer Educator) and the first year with my sister, Carolyn Stumpf.
I got the idea last year when my sister put a bunch of positive sticky notes on our mirror in our dorm room. Whenever I looked into the mirror, I read those positive notes and didn’t think negative thoughts when I looked at my reflection. I thought how lucky I was to have these in my mirror because they helped me love myself, and that every girl should feel this way.
I then created the “Love Yourself” program as a Peer Educator. This program includes activities, videos, and pep talks to help both men and women realize the importance of self-love, and how to accomplish it. I think it’s very important that people feel good about themselves, physically and mentally. Our generation already has to face so many different things that are going against us, why should we go against ourselves too? Media shows us what attractive people are supposed to look like and if we don’t look that way then we are not attractive. There is nothing wrong with your body, but there is a lot wrong with the messages which try to convince you otherwise.
To me, beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin and accepting who you are. Every day I hear people say negative things about others, or themselves, and they don’t realize the damage they are doing. I have a message for you: Stop wishing you look like someone else. Stop hating your body, your face, your personality, and your quirks – and love them. Without these things you wouldn’t be you. Be confident in who you are. Your happiness will not depend on others and what they think about you anymore. Love your flaws and imperfections, because they make you, you. And you are pretty amazing. Love yourself like your life depends on it, because it does.
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Siddhartha Gautama Buddha
My name is Desiree Stumpf and I am from Chateaugay, NY. This is my third year as a Wildlife student. I also have two minors: Biology and Sustainability. I am a peer leader, teacher assistant for FYS, and a peer educator. As a peer educator we create a lot of great programs – please go to them! In my free time I like to binge-watch shows, watch Leonardo DiCaprio movies, and hang out with friends.