Realizing My Worth
By: Ashton Campbell
“I thought that having this opportunity to finally have a voice in my community was the best”
Hello, Love Girls Magazine (LGM)! My name is Ashton Campbell and I am 13 years-old. I am currently an 8th grader at QCCS! Love Girls Magazine has been in my life since I was about 7 years-old. My dad had Jasmine and Kayla Babers as students in school. I remember one day my dad came home from school and was talking about his students starting a place for women, and girls to feel safe about bullying. Gain self-worth, confidence and so much more. My family and I headed to the Love Awards and we have been going ever since. I remember my dad and I were watching my old ballet teacher dance at the Love Awards. I thought that having this opportunity to finally have a voice in my community was the best. I told my dad "how can I become a part of this?" and about 2 years later, I was involved. It started by just going to these meetings, after school. I liked being included in these activities because when I joined LGM Girls on Fire at Washington Junior High, I was going through bullying, harassment, cyberbullying, self-destruction, self-destruction, lack of confidence, and so much more. We got an outstanding chance to do a powerful spoken word at the Love Girls Awards, and we got to speak at the Trinity Health Conference, and Women on Fire Conference. I went to the LGM summer camp, where I got to be in an HBO documentary with L'oreal Paris. I also had the opportunity to be in a collaboration with Plato’s Closet, Cookies and Dreams, and many more.
I am now still involved in Girls on Fire. I have noticed that people will be rude, disrespectful, self-destructive, jealous, and just plain mean. Especially when you are a teenager. I was struggling with myself. I struggled even with the thought of waking up and going to school. I was sick of being bullied. I finally had to notice that it takes time. LGM has taught me that everyone belongs. Everyone deserves a chance, and mainly it is ok, to be yourself. Our spoken word called “Love Yourself,” which we performed, made me feel so amazing. The thought that my group and I were able to speak about how all girls and women should be treated equally made my heart happy. In August, I had the tragedy of a house fire, which caused smoke damage to the whole house. It was my 1st week of 8th grade and I didn't know what to do. I am 13 years-old and my whole world changed in the blink of an eye. No one expects something like that to happen and no one deserves that. LGM helped me understand this. I told my friend Dalaysia and camp coordinator Lydia about the fire at my house. I noticed that LGM taught me that one little thing does not define who I am. I am much more than a house fire, self-harm, negative thinking, and negative body image. It is ok to be upset. Having the support that I have, has shown me what opportunities I have, and that means the world to me. My mental health is so much better, LGM has taught me to love more, laugh more, to not get in my head, IT IS OKAY TO REACH OUT FOR HELP!!! I cannot thank LGM enough. For the improvement of my mental health, and confidence. I finally feel that I am truly happy with myself and the person I have become.
