I have worked corporate jobs, I have worked snobby retail jobs and I hated every second of my life. It killed my soul so violently that I started having physical health problems, as well as my mental problems getting beyond out of control. As soon as I walked out of the doors I had a moment of unbridled relief, shortly followed by complete dread after realizing "Shit, I have to go back at some point". Don't get me wrong I had moments where a rebellious thought would break through the haze of conformity I had forced myself into. But I quickly brushed them off, as they only depressed me further. I missed my old life, I missed being 19 and being able to dress and act how I wanted without a care of what anyone thought.
My final moment of clarity came April 12th 2014. As odd as it will sound, it took place at a Brantley Gilbert concert. Watching him preform his songs, describing the life of the carefree, shit starting rebel. I realized that's how I used to be and I had been fighting this for years. The saddest part is I couldn't even come up with a legitimate reason as to why I'd been fighting against it so hard. I loved this life, I loved how I really was, I wanted this to be my life again. I'm not nor will I ever be the snobby, fake smiling, "I'm so much better than you are because I sell designer brands" sheep that all these people have tried to make me. I felt a wave of relief wash around me as all these thoughts forced themselves into reality. This is who I am, who I was meant to be and who I will fucking be, come hell or high water. Even if I'm in the prettiest formal dress you've ever seen, there will still be some piece of my hell side coming through.
Don't let your job, your friends, your family determine how you act, who you are or what you become. You are you. I had to learn the hard way that someone can only change that if you let them. So very simply put...don't fucking let them. Be proud of yourself, your flaws, your triumphs and you'll be okay.