Red Dress Day

Oh, the dreaded day when every girl in school is expected to don the color red.
As a tomboy growing up, Red Dress Day was my personal nightmare. A crimson hue was about as far from my comfort zone as you could get, especially in the form of a dress. It felt like a betrayal of my very being.

I vividly remember one particular Red Dress Day in middle school. I had resigned myself to borrowing a dress from my sister, the only female in the house. But as I slipped into the silky fabric, I couldn't help but feel a pang of inadequacy. The dress was too frilly, too feminine. It made me feel like I was playing a role I didn't belong in.

• I trudged to school, feeling like an outsider in my own skin.
• As I walked through the halls, I could feel the eyes of my classmates on me.
• Some giggled, others whispered, and a few even asked if I was feeling okay.

Lunchtime was the worst. I sat alone at a table, picking at my food.
I couldn't bring myself to join the other girls, who were all happily chatting in their red dresses. I felt like a misfit, an anomaly.

But as the day wore on, something unexpected happened. One by one, girls from different cliques approached me. They offered to sit with me, they complimented my dress (even though it was my sister's), and they shared their candy. For the first time, I realized that Red Dress Day wasn't about conforming to some arbitrary standard of femininity. It was about unity, about showing support for women who had been through tough times.

And so, I embraced Red Dress Day in my own way. I paired my sister's dress with combat boots and a leather jacket. I wore my hair in a messy bun and added a splash of my favorite blue nail polish.
It was still a dress, but it was a dress that felt like me.

From that day forward, Red Dress Day became a day of empowerment. It was a day to celebrate the diversity of women, to show our support for one another, and to embrace who we are.

So, to all the girls who have ever felt like they don't fit in on Red Dress Day, I say this: wear whatever you want, be whoever you are. Red Dress Day is about more than just a color. It's about unity, it's about strength, and it's about being true to yourself.