Relevant Magazine

The Hidden Cost of Trying to Fit In

The Hidden Cost of Trying to Fit In

Wednesday, July 8, 2026
When I was seven, I was the little girl wearing dresses and climbing trees. I wanted to be adventurous and cute at the same time (can you blame me?). In middle school, I started secretly raiding my mother’s closet and borrowing her scarves, headbands and purses. I remember getting on the school bus, and as…