It's what's on the inside that matters

After reading your article about young people's obsession with their looks, I felt compelled to write to you.

Our children today, especially young girls, are being influenced by so many unrealistic images and unhealthy goals, creating unhealthy weight expectations and very poor self-esteem. They think that life will all of a sudden be perfect if they look perfect on the outside- well, they're wrong.

I know all too well how poor self-esteem and obsession with one's looks can take their toll, as I suffered from a lifethreatening eating disorder for 15 years of my life, and all because I was not happy with "me."

It is only by the grace of God that I am healthy and alive today.

It is now my desire to share my personal story with others, in hopes of helping young people discover their own inner beauty and special gifts, thus preventing them from feeling the need to live up to how perfect they perceive others to be on the outside and begin focusing on who they were created to be on the inside. Jennifer Russo Simi Valley