I am a hurricane. I take on every situation with full force. I recklessly snatch up all things in my path, bring them in with me, and make them my own. I have gusts of intensity that scare people away, yet I have the calmest center. I am influenced by the motivations of others, yet powered by my own ferocious energy. I am peaceful at my core, yet I am a powerful whirlwind everywhere else. I am confusing. I am anticipated, but people can only handle so much of me. I am intense. My emotions fall at both extremes of the spectrum. Either I feel everything all at once, or I feel nothing at all.

One thing is for sure; I always leave my mark wherever I go. Whether that is a good or bad thing, people know that I’ve been there. Once I start caring about someone, I truly never stop. I suck people in and give them pieces of my heart, and never expect to get them back. I am loyal and I care so, so much that it is almost one of my faults. I feel everything so deeply, yet at times I find I feel nothing at all. It is the most obscure dichotomy.

With all of that being said, I truly did not have this immense self-discovery until I went to college. I have always known that I am made up of unique emotions and thoughts, as we all are, but I truly did not learn about who I really am until I embarked on my journey away from home. The experiences that I’ve had in the past year, the people that I’ve met, the challenges I’ve faced, and the spiritual growth I’ve undergone have all triggered this time of discovery in my life.

I know that I am strong and I am capable, but I am also weak. I have moments where everything becomes too much to handle and I have moments where I feel as though I can conquer anything that is thrown my way. I am passionate, seriously passionate, about absolutely everything. I love others immensely; I feel stress and anxiety more than I thought I could; yet I handle adversity with a determination that I didn’t know existed in me. I give away pieces of my heart to every person I meet until I feel like I don’t have anything left.

The way I care about people and events in my life could be considered both a blessing and a curse. I am proud to say that I love fiercely and I am also proud to admit that I am a human who is full of faults. It has been so special to have this period of time where I have gotten to learn about who I am. It is so important that we get to know ourselves. Recognizing our strengths, weaknesses, and all of our flaws is the best way we can ensure that we love ourselves in the best way possible, while also loving those around us best. I am a hurricane, and I am proud to know that about myself.