Maya was a cheerful girl who loved to explore the forest near her home, play soccer with her friends, and build all sorts of cool things. But one day at school, something happened that made her feel strange.
During art class, the teacher asked everyone to draw a picture of themselves. When Maya proudly showed her drawing, a classmate of her said, “Why didn’t you draw yourself pretty like the other girls? Girls are supposed to be beautiful.”
Maya looked around and noticed that many of the other girls had drawn themselves in fancy dresses with long hair and sparkly shoes. Suddenly, Maya felt unsure about her own drawing. She had drawn herself in her soccer uniform, holding a hammer, because she loved building things with her dad.
That night, Maya asked her mom, “Do I always have to be beautiful? One of my classmates said girls are supposed to be.”
Her mom smiled gently and said, “
Maya thought about it and felt a little better. But the next day at school, she still couldn’t shake her classmate’s words. When it was time for soccer practice, Maya wasn’t as excited as usual. She wondered if she should focus more on looking pretty than playing soccer.
Then something unexpected happened. During practice, Maya saw her friend Sarah struggling with the ball. Sarah wasn’t as fast or strong as the others, and she often felt left out. Maya ran over and said, “Don’t worry, Sarah, I’ll help you!”
Together, they practiced, and by the end of the day, Sarah had scored her first goal. She was overjoyed and gave Maya a big hug. “Thank you, Maya! You’re the best!”
Maya realized something important. It wasn’t her looks that made her special; it was her kindness and her willingness to help others. The next day, Maya wore her favorite soccer jersey to school with pride. When her classmate asked why she didn’t wear a pretty dress like the other girls, Maya smiled and said, “Because I’m more than just how I look. I’m strong, I’m smart, and I love helping my friends.”
Her classmate was quiet for a moment, then she smiled back. “I guess you’re right. We’re all more than just pretty dresses.”
From that day on, Maya didn’t worry about looking beautiful on the outside. She knew that being a kind, brave, and strong person was what made her truly shine. And she realized that every girl, no matter what she looks like, is much more than just beautiful.