Thread by @girlsreallyrule

I never got anything higher than a B+ from any of my male English teachers. My Dad, who was an AP HS English teacher even wrote one of my papers to test out if I was being marked down because my voice was distinctly female. His paper, in my handwriting, got a B+. My point is...1/

...that you have to learn the rules of the game and perform in the game if grades matter to you, but in terms of defining YOUR style and creating YOUR voice-which is everything-nothing they say matters much. It will only keep you from believing in your own talent. 2/

This is what happened to me - despite knowing I was above average in my writing, I believed those grades, full of human fault and influence, defined me. Stupid grades that most likely contained aspects of prejudice, judgment, and maybe even jealousy. 3/

I'm saying this to you because YOU have to believe in your ability, and that you are better than average - that is the whole ballgame. For years I shied away at doing what I really wanted to do because I truly thought I was a B+ writer, thus a B+ person. 4/

I am a paid writer now, who supports herself with her art, and I never thought I could feel this fulfilled with what I do for a living. The only way I was able to find that out was to say fuck em, take the scary jump and be willing to pick myself up if I fell. 5/

You all never let me fall, and for that I will always be most grateful for you, my often anonymous readers and supporters, who honestly brought me back to life. Please remember... 6/

...YOU decide what grade you get to be and YOU decide where you fit in this life, so GO GET IT. This is especially important for women to remember, and even more important for women of color because our voices are often drowned out for not fitting a distinctly male mould. 7/

So, cue BLACKPINK "How You Like That," and if you feel so inclined, please support my work at SHERO - besides building this Twitter account from nothing (w/ no blue verification check), it is the work I'm most proud of and how I am able to keep writing. 8/ shero.substack.com/p/shero-needs-…

p.s. you might need this for reference and/or to get your day started. You won't regret giving it a listen. Thanks for your time. 9/