This year I am going to interview five different people with a visible (or hidden) difference whilst I 'get to know' them a bit better. The purpose of this series is for the readers to have a better insight into their lives/how they would like to be treated whilst hopefully, being just as informative and helpful.šā
Meet Tara š
I first met Tara when she applied to join my FWFD- friends with facial differencesā¤ļø Facebook group in April. Tara is such a kind and sweet woman that I had to share her story for you all.
About
Name: Tara Age: 19 What do you do? -I'm currently studying Occupational Therapy at uni.
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What's one thing you want people to know about you?
That I'm not always as confident as I come across. I've been part of this world of having scars for a long time. I've done the interviews, the photo shoots, the meeting adults who claim that I'm 'so brave' and who are impressed with my 'confidence to carry on with life'. But I don't see myself as brave, I dealt with what life threw at me. Some periods of my life have been harder than others, but I've had a lot of support. Confidence is not a lifelong trait, it's a feeling that you either feel or a persona you exude during moments in life. Some days I'm confident, others not. Sometimes I can exude confidence even when not feeling it internally. It's a skill and a defense mechanism. So life lesson to everyone, don't assume those who come across confident are okay or don't need your help all the time.
What's your #visibledifference ?
I have burns scars covering my back, chest, left hand, neck and face š
What's one thing you want people to know about your #visibledifference ?
I guess I'd want more people to know that it's not the most important thing about me. And that if you asked most of my friends, they'd tell you that they don't even notice my scars anymore. I'm more than my injury, I'm more than my I'm going treatment, I'm more than how I look. And that I'm a pretty awesome person (It's been said š )
How do you handle being out in public?
Same as most I guess, I just do. I've had my scars a long time, people's stares, comments etc affect me of course, but ice developed a thick skin and ways to cope and/or interact with those people. It's not always easy (Check out my recent blog post for more on this http://unapologeticallytara.co.uk/myvisibledifference-facial-equality-day-2019/ ) but life goes on and most if the time I am too busy with life to focus much on those strangers around me, and their opinions of me.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I'm not sure. I've decided that I need to stop trying to plan my life out. In 2 years time I will hopefully have finished uni. I may be working as an Occupational Therapist, I may be doing something else. But whatever I end up doing, I hope to be happy, healthy and to have continued on this path of personal development and that I continue to appreciate life.
Can you share a quote or a message to leave the readers with?
āNo matter how you feelā¦ Get up. Dress up. Show up. And never ever Give up.ā
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