We have to be brave, we have to be strong, and we have to believe in ourselves.-Malala Yousafzai

Empowerment is defined as the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. Personally, I think this definition is way too simplistic. Empowerment, to me, is a lot of things. It’s not only about reclaiming one’s necessary rights, but also their story and narratives. From my perspective as a Middle Eastern girl, I feel like my story is taken away from me through negative portrayals of us in the media. Art, poetry, and writing gives me the chance to take my narrative back into my own hands. I strongly believe my superpower of self-love and empowerment through creating and sharing art is an act of defiance, my personal little revolutionary act.

Empowerment can also be an act of healing. Growing up, I always felt I was secondary to others due to my religion and race. When I was younger, I attempted to coax myself into thinking I was part of the American status quo. Looking back at these experiences as a youngster, I feel a little ashamed of my naivete and esteem of myself. Empowerment through art gave me a chance to think of how I was before, how badly I wanted to be accepted and treated normally when I was out with my headscarved mother and how I didn’t want the hateful stares. Making my own art that delineated from my experiences was not only a place of reflection but also healing. I learned to love my roots and myself. Empowerment is my superpower because it has changed me in a super way. I went from meek and unsure of myself, to confident by being aware of my situation and lifting myself up through creation. Finally feeling empowered didn’t only make me more confident and sure of myself, I had a better self-image and a greater appreciation of where I come from. A reason why I personally use a lot of cultural motifs in my art is to heighten my appreciation for it and share my love and experiences with other people, no matter who they may be.

Through creating and consuming art that positively portrays girls like me, it lifts me up and tells me I’m worth it. It’s so important because so many times we define worth as what is normal. The thing is, so many girls like me are subconsciously told we aren’t worth it. Our skin isn’t light enough, our hair is too frizzy and wild, and we aren’t good enough, smart enough, and beautiful enough. Positive representations of strong girls are, unfortunately, too little. The media is changing though and people are realizing that portraying a wide range of people in television and movies is profitable. Representation may seem trivial to some, but when it comes to empowerment, seeing positive representations of people like you is extremely important. It greatly shapes young people’s perceptions of themselves and how they’re supposed to be.

Furthermore, my brand of self-love is my superpower because it helps me in all assets of my life. I realize, that my relatively newfound confidence does not only help myself, but others as well. I try to help people realize their inner worth even if they don't see it. I want people to empower themselves just like how I have. Teenagers of all types have so much self-doubt and it breaks my heart. Even if you change one person's attitude of themselves, it can make a difference. I always remember that one small compliment or push can change someone's entire outlook.

As Mahatma Gandhi famously spoke, be the change you wish to see in the world! Pick up your pencil, your brush, and your sketchbook and create! Show your immense worth and creativity! Draw, code, write, and share your experiences, as we are all capable of incredible things. I hope you learned a thing or two about my "superpower" and use it in your own life.