To all the friends I've lost over the years due to busy schedules,

To all the boys that have ever done me wrong,

To all the people in my life who told me to "lower" myself or to dream realistically.

Well, this one's for you all.

I AIN'T SORRY.

I refuse to apologize for a busy schedule. I refuse to apologize for the free moments that I stole for myself in order to relax in a bath. I refuse to apologize for all the credits I took this semester, and I refuse to apologize because of a happy relationship. I got busy, between two jobs and full-time school, the time that I had alone was precious. Relationships aren't a game anymore; when you get older, relationships are potential marriages (at least, that's how I view them). We all lose friends over time, it's normal. But I'm always a text or a call away if you need me, that's how it always will be.

F*ckboy: I refuse to apologize for my acting like a witch with a "B" when you didn't get your way. I refuse to apologize when I ignored your calls, texts, FaceTime or whatever because I wanted to spare my own feelings. But let me just remind you one more time: YOU AIN'T SLICK. I refuse to apologize. I didn't apologize for my actions then and I still stand by them today. Especially now that I am completely, 100 percent, happy with who I'm with. Let's just be real for a moment anyway -- there's no way you could have handled all that I bring to the table.

And lastly, to everyone who has told me to "lower" myself or to dream realistically: I refuse. I refuse to break down a confidence that I have worked so hard to build up over the years because you find it "threatening" or "unladylike" to be arrogant. Well, queen Bey said it herself: "Some call it arrogant, I call it confident." I won't apologize for being confident in myself and learning to love the parts of me that I despised before -- parts that I wanted to change before but have grown to love. Self-love is important; everyone should love themselves and learn that they are amazing and hold themselves to a certain standard. If you constantly tell someone to "lower" themselves or to not think so highly of themselves, it could lead to a lower self-esteem and a never-ending search to hear, "You're beautiful" from other people.

I've been that person, searching for my own beauty in the words of people who never wanted me for who I am. I have big dreams and an even bigger confidence in myself that I can achieve those dreams. So, to anyone who's ever brought me down in any way possible, I have one thing to say for the person that I have become: