Confidence Interviews!

Welcome to the page about Confidence Interviews! In this page our crew members from our web development team have interviewed several individuals (friends, family, other crew members) about their own self-confidence and their perspective/ advice on confidence!! :)

Interviewer: Galiba Anjum

Interviewee: Emma Schmidt

1. How would you define self-confidence?

To me, self-confidence is something that is crucial in order to succeed. Self-confidence isn’t just related to the confidence surrounding physical looks, it goes so much deeper than the physical plane we first think of. It means learning to trust yourself, being comfortable with who YOU are. This extends to how confident you are in your own ideas and being able to stand up for the things that matter to you.

2. Do you struggle with self-confidence yourself or do you anyone who does?

I’ve been surrounded by people who love and support me which I believe immensely contributed to the person I am today as well the confidence I have in the present. I’m thankful for everyone in my life who has helped me believe in myself but most importantly understand my strengths and weaknesses. However, there are times where my negative thoughts get the best of me and I start doubting my abilities. For example, with the pandemic going on and being stuck at home, I’ve been feeling more anxious about how I will interact with others when I go back into participating in my local community.

3. Describe a time or experience that helped build your self-confidence.

My mother has helped me tremendously to build up my confidence and I can’t thank her enough for it. One memory I vividly remember is when I was in middle school and I was bullied by some mean girls. These girls thought it would be funny to comment on my body which is honestly disgusting by itself. I didn’t let it get to me, but when I got home I broke down. I told my mother how I felt and how ugly I felt because of these people. My mother listened attentively through the entirety of my talk about my feelings. After I finished telling my story, she let me know that everybody and every body is beautiful. Hearing that made me feel so much better because it reminded me that not everyone is the same, different is a beautiful thing and we should always embrace our differences.

4. Has social media or the media in general affected your self-confidence

As I said before, body image is something I’ve dealt with since I was young. Seeing models that were all extremely skinny, pale, and tall has always brought me down, but I am super glad to see that there is so much more diversity nowadays. I feel so much better about myself seeing more and more big girls on my explore page or for you page! It’s baffling to see how social media has convinced us that one type of body or one type of skin is seen as beautiful.

5. What are other ways you can build up your self-confidence?

The most important thing I can recommend is to surround yourself with people who build you up and not bringing you down. It’s very hard to be able to build up your own confidence by yourself especially if the people around you are “uninterested” or plain out ignoring your efforts. It can really hurt you and can hinder your ability to believe in yourself and push you deeper into having negative feelings. Of course it’s important to realize your own self worth and realize what you’re capable of, but having people who also support you can help you be more confident in yourself quicker!

6. What is something you wish other people would stop doing in regards to confidence?

I know it might not be easy to stop doing certain things, however I really really wish that people would stop criticizing themselves so much. You guys are amazing please please don’t let someone hiding behind a screen, popular posts and even people like your family tell you otherwise. You are so valid and if this makes you feel better - I believe in you! You’re literally perfect, don’t change for someone else!

7. Any last-minute things you would like to add?

Another thing you could always do is always make a playlist full of songs that make you feel more confident! It’s super effective and always cheers me up.

Interviewer: Praguni Kumar

Interviewee: Tara Wu

1. How would you define self-confidence?

In my opinion self confidence means to believe in yourself and not let others words affect your actions. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get hurt by other’s word but it means you can’t let their words let you hit rock bottom.

2. Do you struggle with self-confidence yourself or do you anyone who does?

I actually struggle with it a lot myself. I feel it a lot when it comes to social media. One day I will love my body image and some days I just flat out hate it. I don’t think there is anyone who is always confident, but it’s finding the balance that makes you healthy. I tend to care what people say about me, and don’t want someone to say something about my body but over the years I’ve learned to just deal with it, but I’m not perfect at it yet.

3. According to you, how does social media contribute to lower self confidence. What else results in low self esteem?

I think the effects of social media are based on your own perspective. If you let it get into your head it’s obviously going to affect you, but if you don’t then it wont. Also, if you don’t have the right group of friends around you, it could result in low self esteem.

4. What would you give as an advice to someone who is struggling or what tips would you give ?

Honestly, I can’t really give solid advice because I’m not great at it either, but just believe in yourself and don’t let others’ negativity get to you.

5. What is something you wish people should stop doing in regards to self confidence ?

I wish people would need to stop assuming they need to look a certain way to be accepted

6. Do you know any ways through which someone could gain or build their confidence ?

This is totally up to a perspective. Just do what you enjoy, for me I enjoy working out and just focusing on my mental health. For those who are struggling I would say take a step back, and find what you really enjoy doing. If you need to cut something out of your life, go right ahead it’s for the better of yourself.

Interviewer: Britney Martinez

Interviewee: Chloe Trujillo

1. How would you define self-confidence?

“I think that self-confidence is when you are the best version of oneself and not worrying about what others think of you.”

2. Do you struggle with self-confidence yourself or do you anyone who does?

“Yes, I do still struggle with self-confidence.”

3. Describe a time or experience that helped build your self-confidence.

“When I served on a team for an Acts retreat. It put me out of my comfort zone while being surrounded by people who I didn’t know very well but they were still there for me and supported me anyways. This experience helped me branch out and not be as closed off. It helped me have more confidence and faith in myself and my religion .”

4. Has social media or the media in general affected your self-confidence?

“ Yes, Instagram and TikTok generally have people who look like my ideal body type or look a certain way that I wish I did...it can be degrading and leave you feeling like you are not enough because you do not look like them.

5. What are other ways you can build up your self-confidence?

“ Building my self-confidence can be made stronger by finding new ways that put me out of my comfort zone while still enjoying the experience and the surroundings I am in.”

6. What is something you wish other people would stop doing in regards to confidence?

“ I wish people stopped thinking that in order for you to be good enough, you need to be pretty or have the ideal body type.”

7. Any last-minute things you would like to add?

“ Self-confidence can be hard to achieve but as long as you keep working towards your goals and you know your worth, it can be achieved!”

Interviewer: Anoushka Tanwar

Interviewee: Illma

1. How do you define self confidence?

For me, self confidence means to be able to love and respect yourself at all points. Of course, all of us do things we feel we shouldn't have done, something that is wrong, but, being able to respect yourself at all moments is important and that is what self confidence for me means.

2. Do you struggle with self confidence?

Yes, I did. I do.Though I have now evolved into a much mature confident person now, but, still there are times when I feel I didn't do justice to things ( because I wasn't confident enough) . And I feel, it's okay. Self Confidence is a process, it'll take time.

3. Describe a time or period that helped you build your self confidence.

I guess, that would be when I met my best friends. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have become a confident girl. It was difficult, but, then, I had my friends who always told me to believe in myself.

4. Has social media affected your self-confidence?

When I joined social media, initially, it was pressurizing! I saw beautiful people posting their flawless pictures, talking so confidently and perfectly! To be honest, yes, I was intermediated at first. But, now eventually I have realized that social media isn't reality.

5. What are the ways through which you can build self-confidence?

It would definitely hands down be by believing in yourself. Go for whatever you have ever wished for! Don't stop because you fear judgment and rejection, I swear it's a part of your process of gaining self confidence!. Be your own judge, love yourself and do what you want to do!

Interviewer: Elizeth Rojas

Interviewee: Justice

1. How do you define self love?

I would define self love as the pursuit of happiness. Our happiness is important and we have to go after it. Self love is being confident in who you are and speaking up for yourself

2. Have you struggled with self love/confidence?

I struggled with self love since middle school. It was hard for me to fit in. I struggled with social anxiety so it was hard for me to make friends and keep them.

3. How do you practice self love?

When I’m having a bad day I remind myself of who I am. I am kind to my mind and body by saying a lot of positive affirmations to myself. I also make time for my hobbies and alone time.

4. What advice would you give to individuals who struggle with self love?

I would tell them to let go of all the negative thoughts about themselves and focus on the positive. Often times having a negative mindset hurts us. Our negative thoughts make us feel like we are not worthy but that’s not true.

Interviewer: Natalie Gazzana

Interviewee: Keira Yanez

1. How do you define self-confidence?

Self Confidence is accepting and trusting yourself and your abilities. You know your strengths and weaknesses well, and strive to improve yourself with a healthy mentality. You can accept criticism from others and use it constructively because you are secure in yourself.

2. Describe a time or experience that helped build your self-confidence.

In a school program DECA I received an award for leadership and it was really nice to get recognition for the work that I have put in the club outside of my personal growth in the club. Getting that recognition helped me build confidence in my abilities and made me want to work even harder.

3. Has social media had a positive or negative effect on your self-esteem?

For me social media has had both a position and negative effect on my self esteem but it all depends on who you decide to follow. For a long time all that was fed to me through social media was society’s beauty standard and it brought down my self esteem and made me question my self worth but more recently I have found influencers who do their best to only spread a positive message.

4. Do you struggle with self confidence?

I feel like self confidence is something that everyone struggles with especially as a teenager with the influence of social media but surrounding myself with confident and accepting people has made me want to improve my self confidence.