Lizzie Velasquez interview overcoming obstacles

Lizzie, describe yourself as a person...

I am a fun loving 23-year-old college student who loves to spend time with my family and friends. I am very determined but I also have a tendency to be very stubborn. If I’m ever told I can’t do something I put my mind to or that I won’t be able to accomplish, I automatically think of it is a dare that I won’t do it and it makes me that much more determined to get it accomplished.

I can pretty much make a joke out of any situation, I’m quick on my feet and I love to laugh. I am the biggest girly girl. I love to get dressed up, go shopping, and getting my nails done.

I have a passion for helping others and making a difference in the world. I take life one day at a time and make the best of it every chance that I get.

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE: AN UNDIAGNOSED SYNDROME

My struggle against an undiagnosed syndrome

Can you tell us why your struggle with an undiagnosed syndrome has made you stronger to face other different challenges of life?

This syndrome has blessed me in so many ways but has also faced me with many challenges. One of the biggest things my syndrome has taught me is resiliency. I have been knocked down over and over because of dealing with bullies, struggling with my self-esteem, and many unexpected health issues.

Everyone knows life throws you curve balls, in my case it’s like life throws me giant boulders. After years of feeling as if my syndrome had defeated me I realized that the only way that would change is if I change my attitude about it. Because of this syndrome it has helped in just about every aspect of my life. It has taught me that in any situation, as long as I am willing to put an effort in and stay strong in my faith I can get through whatever situation it might be.

HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF BULLYING? CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE

The fight againts Bullying

Have you ever been a victim or target of bullying/bullies? When was the first time?

The only time that I can say I really had to deal with being bullied was when I was in elementary school. I look back now and realize that kids have no filter; they are just going to say whatever comes to their mind out loud without thinking of the consequences. The main reason I was bullied was because I didn’t look like the other kids. I was very small and would never stand up for myself so I was an easy target. Luckily though, I never had to deal with being physically bullied. I mostly had to endure name-calling and other kids staring and pointing at me.

TIPS FOR VICTIMS OF BULLYING. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE

My advice to victims of Bullying

What would you tell to the parents of children who are more likely to be targets of bullying?

My advice to parents of children being bullied is to support and reassure them that things will get better even if they don’t think it will. The biggest thing I owe to helping me get through bullying was having a strong support system around me. If a child knows that they have family who they can talk to without judging them or making them feel bad is one of the greatest things a child could have. Some kids feel that they are going to be a tattle tale if they tell an adult what is going on so they also need to be reassured that they aren’t doing anything wrong and they won’t be in trouble if they tell someone about the situation.

LOVE, CARE & RESPECT YOUR CHILDREN

Innocent children victims of Bullying

How can parents prepare or train children who are more likely to than others to face bullying?

I wouldn’t say there is a specific protocol for parents to use to warn their children about bulling. When I was younger my parents never sat me down and said “Lizzie, when you go to school there may be kids who pick on you.” If they did do that it would do two things. It would make me apprehensive and nervous about going to school and it would cause a lot of insecurities within myself and it might be for no reason if I was never bullied.

I’d say the best way to handle your child being bullied is to wait until if and when the situation arises and your child feels comfortable enough to go to speak to you about it. Once they do that, listening, reassuring them that things will be okay, and then working with them on a smart way to try and resolve the problem is what would be best.

ARE YOU DISCOURAGED? THEN YOU SHOULD READ THIS

Poweful words to keep you motivated

Lizzie, what would you tell someone who is discouraged, or about to give up on life because she/he thinks she/he is "ugly"?

The best advice I could give to someone who is feeling like they are too ugly is to let them know that whether you want to believe it or not, you are beautiful. Everyone is unique in his or her own way.

In my new book, “Be Beautiful, Be You” I go into more detail about the times in my life when I couldn’t even look in the mirror because I was disgusted by my reflection. I’ve been in their shoes where you believe without a doubt that you are the ugliest person. I have been at the point in my life where nobody could convince me that I was pretty. Throughout my journey I found ways to learn to love myself. The road to that point has been nothing short of rough but trust me, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

God made you the way you are for a reason but finding that reason is up to you. You have to be willing to change your attitude and outlook on yourself. Once you do that it is unbelievable how your feelings about yourself as a whole can change.

WE CAN OVERCOME ADVERSITY IF WE NEVER SURRENDER

Facing adversity

And what would you tell them if they will have to face that condition for the rest of their lives?

My syndrome is something I have lived with since the day I was born and will live with until the day I die. Having something about yourself that you cannot change such as a condition or syndrome isn’t necessarily something that’s bad. You have to get to a point where you are confident in knowing that whatever you are living with is something you can’t change so you can either choose to make the best of it and enjoy the positive things you do have or you can decide to be unhappy and shut yourself off from the wonderful blessings you do have.

HOW YOUR FAITH HAS HELPED YOU? CLICK AND CHECK THE ANSWER

My strength and my shield

Lizzie, how has your faith helped you face every challenge you ever had?

I’ve always said that the three things that have helped me with every single challenge I’ve faced is my faith, my family, and my friends. Faith is everything to me. God decided to make me one of three people in the entire world who is blessed with this syndrome so he obviously knew that this was something that he knew I could handle despite all the challenges that do come my way. I grew up in the church with my family so my church is like my second home. My parents always instilled in me the importance of prayer. I know that no matter what, if God could bring me to it he can help me through it. My strong belief in my faith is what has helped me get through not only the tough times but the good times as well. It’s by the grace of God that I am where I am today.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW ALL THESE THING?

If God loves you so much, why he allowed you to "suffer"

A hard or painful question to answer, but I know many will ask after reading this will be, If God loves you so much, why he allowed you to "suffer" from an "undiagnosed" syndrome?

Towards the beginning of middle school I went through a phase where I was so angry with God. I could not understand why he punished me with a syndrome that not only no one knows a thing about but one that causes me to be ridiculed and judged because of my appearance. It wasn’t until high school that I started realizing that no matter how hard I prayed, no matter how many times I wished upon a star, I was never going to wake up in the morning and magically look like everyone else.

My mindset started turning and I started realizing that maybe there was a reason that God decided to make me so unique. It hit me that my attitude is what is going to make or break me. I could either stay in my room feeling sorry for myself or I can start looking at the bright side of things because even though I had it rough there is always someone else out there who is worse off than I am. Once I started on the path of self-acceptance everything started to make sense. God didn’t punish me with this syndrome; he gave me one of the biggest blessings in my entire life.

Having this syndrome has opened up so many doors for me to help other people who are feeling like they aren’t good enough. They might not have my syndrome and know what it’s like to be in my shoes but I can be someone they can relate to who has gone through similar struggles as they have. Looking back I feel so guilty that I was ever angry with God for this syndrome when he actually blessed me with it.

CLICK TO READ THE LAST QUESTION

Tell us about your goals

Lizzie, you have accomplished many things, but where do you see yourself in 20 years, where do you want to be?

All the goals and dreams I set for myself were things that I was planning on working on during the next 20 years. Never in my wildest dreams would I think I would be able to cross them off my list by the age of 21.

I’m at point in my life where I’m asking myself what’s next?

In the next 20 years I’ll be 43 years old. By then I hope to have my master’s degree, maybe a few children’s books out, I hope to have spoken at least once in all 50 states, and I hope to be settled down with a husband and children. I also hope to have my own company that is dedicated to helping those who need help with their self-esteem and self-acceptance.

KNOW MORE ABOUT LIZZIE

Lizzie Velasquez: "This syndrome has blessed me in so many ways"

PARA LEER EN ESPAÑOL HAZ CLIC AQUÍ

Do you feel you're unable to follow your dreams?

Do you take negativity and criticism to heart?

Does that negativity prevent you from moving forward in your life?

Have you set goals? If so, have you accomplished any of them?

Do you need to get motivated?

Lizzie Velasquez opens her soul and shares her remarkable story, giving us an inspiring testimony. She reveals intimate details about her struggles living in a society that places great emphasis on outer appearance.

Let Lizzie inspire you! In this interview Lizzie details her life experience living with a rare syndrome that does not allow her to gain weight. Lizzie’s undiagnosed syndrome prevents her body from storing fat and building muscle. This syndrome, which is known to affect only two others worldwide, has made her life a study in contradictions.

Lizzie eats whatever she wants, yet cannot move a weigh scale past 60 or so pounds. In a time when many people change their appearance in order to feel accepted, she has accepted herself with extraordinarily positive self-esteem. Her attitude, not her syndrome, is contagious.

Hear about the negativity, teasing and bullying she encounters on a daily basis, and how she deals with it. Despite a lifetime of difficulties both emotionally and physically, Lizzie accomplished all of her dreams by the age of 21. You can do it too!

CLICK HERE TO MEET THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN

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