Define a Perfectionist The summer before freshman year, I decided to join the cheerleading team. I thought, maybe it might be fun, being on a team with some classmates and maybe even making new friends. Once, during a team dinner, everybody started talking about the upcoming school year. The biggest topic was who would be in each other’s classes. When the faces at the table turned to me, it was my queue to list the courses I was taking. “Advanced English, Advanced Geometry, World History 1…” I began going through my schedule, when someone interrupted me. “Izzy,” they said, “you’re a lot smarter than you look.” What a curse. Throughout my life I have always tried to be the confident, perfect girl. I wear a mask of false confidence,
