On September 9^th and 10^th, Ana Homayoun, author of “The Myth of the Perfect Girl,” came to Pine Crest to give speeches to faculty, middle and high school students, and their families. The recently published novel focuses on the difficulties and challenges that girls of this generation face growing up in our world today. Parents reading this book can also better understand the social and academic pressures girls face everyday. Homayoun discussed how society’s perception of the “perfect image girl” makes girls feel like they have to compete with each other to be their best. The problem is, striving for perfection limits us and creates an ideal based on externally driven standards. She also explained how girls are surrounded by the thoughts and ideas of what others perceive to be important. Trying to be perfect causes students to feel overwhelmed in their academics, social lives, looks, and sports.  In her book, Homayoun, tries to encourage girls to be confident about themselves. She believes that girls are most creative when not stressed about academics and friends.

Often in today’s highly competitive atmosphere for college admissions, most students have the idea that they are “required” to take all advanced classes or they will not attend their dream school, thus not have a successful career.  Pressures of having the best grades and looking perfect consume the minds of many girls throughout America. The “myth” is that you can and should be able to do it all, all of the time. This myth is obviously false, and the pursuit of being a perfectionist often distracts girls from what is actually important. If your mind is focused on everything always needing to be the best, there is a fear in the back of your head telling you that nothing will ever be good enough.

As Homayoun has traveled around the nation speaking to audiences, she has primarily spoken about time management and how to achieve one’s most important goals. While at Pine Crest, she asked the crowd to reflect on the past year. She discussed the goals students wanted to achieve, and what they would do differently this year after learning from previous mistakes in the past. She also recommended finding more time in the day to do the things they loved, mostly by using time more wisely. Homayoun also emphasized that good nutrition, including a healthy breakfast and enough sleep, plays a role in one’s success. Overall, Homayoun’s “The Myth of the Perfect Girl” dispenses useful advice and helps girls who are facing the difficulties of growing up in a judgmental society.