It made me aware that everyone is not perfect

From 13 years old and even up to now I have a lot of acne. It’s very tough to grow up with the other kids, when you start to get into girls and go out to parties. And sometimes people point out to you, like your face looks like shit because you have a lot of acne. Pizza face and all that stuff. Of course I tried everything. I tried so much medicine, and skin products, laser stuff, everything. There was so much expense. I spent more money than most of the beautiful girls out there today. That’s really tough because it really pushes you down to the bottom. You feel like you don’t deserve to be with others and have fun. 

My confidence was hitting the bottom. I had nothing, I felt like I barely deserved to be alive. Your biggest problem, not a weakness but defect is in your face. That is what you have every time you meet somebody new, and all the time. It is so obvious, you know.

You just get sick of yourself, of being that low. You try to find ways around it. You find inspiration through people and music. I kind of just grew out of it, so to speak. It’s a scar in me of course but I’m kind of aware of the problem. Once you are aware of the problem you can start to work with it and rebuild yourself. I still have scars on my face but I am OK with it now. 

Kids are very honest about what they say…. “you look like a pizza face.” That sucks but of course it’s made me very aware of other people. It makes me understand other people better, their feelings. People have problems, defects that they are afraid of. I’m kind of nice now. And I can treat people better because I don’t step on people and say that kind of stuff. It made me aware that everyone is not perfect. You have to lift them up. 

I had a teddy bear like yours, a little bit. When I was around five years old I gave it to my mother as a present, because this is the best I have. “You can have this. It is for you.” My mother still has it by her bed.