Willow Wasp’s Woes
I am Willow the wasp, and I demand that my woes be heard by you all.
Contented as I may be with my simple, tiresome life, I still can’t help but feel wistful of what could have been. I am a wasp, and as you may already know, my kind’s reputation precedes us. In every waking moment, I feel a strong longing to be perceived differently by everyone. I don’t wish to be defined as something my past generations have been when it is not who I really am. Society’s way of judging others based on a minority within a larger group of beings is so cruel and unjust. Although, perhaps us wasps deserve the horrible perception society has built for us, because my kind’s majority is not gentle. I assure you though, I don’t deserve the backlash.
Us wasps are known to be the bees’ aggressive cousins. It is a known fact spread around this world, and it is, quite sadly true. I have witnessed my fellow wasps sting humans left and right for no reason, and it has frustrated me to no end. No one has done any harm to us, and yet, we still choose to strike first. Indeed, we do it to protect ourselves, because why should we wait to be hurt first and then retaliate? However, I’ve always been quite envious of bees and their way of life. They will not hurt anyone, unless provoked, and they will not risk their lives unless deemed absolutely dire to do so. Well, look at them now — they are still feared, and yet respected by everyone. Alternatively, we are feared, but also scorned.
I have never stung anyone in my life, and I don’t plan on doing so. However, that will never change people’s perception of wasps, because in this case, I am the minority. Every fellow wasp around me is so obnoxiously territorial, to the point where they are blinded by their possessiveness and will strike, just in case. No one will see me for who I truly am, because the rest of my kind will taint my image for me. I am wistful of what could have been, but my woes will always be stronger, powerfully demanding to be the centre of attention, and leaving no room for change.
Perhaps, there is still hope for you. You do not seek validation from other beings but your own kind, so maybe, communicating with people about who you truly are is possible. It’s far more promising than my dire situation, anyway. You stand a chance, but I do not. Therefore, I ask of you to never allow anyone to place you into a stereotype. You are your own person, and when someone tries to place you in a box, I beseech you to strive to get your point across that you are not who people make you out to be, rather, you are who you make yourself out to be.
No one chooses who you are for you. That is entirely up to you, and that is truly beautiful.
