Memories extend far beyond moments. They are infinite. Forever ingrained in your soul. As a freshman in college, I look back at my time this year, before another milestone in my life closes. Lately, I found myself thinking more about the girl I used to be — who I was in high school. A girl that I loved, but now, am more proud of — who I am today. I think of that girl a lot. We can't become what we want by remaining who we are. Change is inevitable. Change is progress. So, to the girl I used to be, this is for you.

Dear Girl I Used to Be,

First, thank you for teaching me how to love. For teaching me that whatever bad things happen, despite whatever adversity comes, the people that remain with you are the only people that truly matter. I was blessed in elementary school with meeting some of the best people. People who, despite coming and going, will remain my friends. That group — who were just friends in elementary school, playing tag, coloring with chalk, playing cherry-bomb on the playground (despite risk of injury), grew to be my best friends in high school. With those people influencing my young self, I was able to love my new friends in high school even more. As we all went our separate ways, I knew that knowing how to love for the friendship that I was given would be an asset 154.9 miles away. This was true. I’ve met the most amazing people my first year of college. People I can’t imagine not being in my life. People who have been with me through the tears, the laughs, the bliss and the stress that accompanies being on your own. The truth of it is, those people wouldn’t be in my life today had that high school girl closed her heart to friends that have changed her life for the better. So, thank you for showing me true friendship. For showing me what it means to do anything for old friends who stay, and for the new ones too.

I wish you didn’t spend so much time worrying about making other people happy before yourself. I get it, you enjoy seeing people light up, seeing joy spread and hoping your personality will rub off. But, if their happiness and joy come at the expense of your own… is it worth it? In high school, you spent way too much time focusing on making other people happy. You avoided the one thing that you should’ve also focused on — yourself. You didn’t even realize it. You were just doing what you thought was best. Now, with one year of college under my belt, and the “real world” fast approaching, I wish you hadn’t worried so much. People will like you for you. People will stay in your life for your true personality, your true sense of humor and your true heart — not what everyone perceives you to be. I still enjoy making people happy, but not giving up my entire happiness, too. So thank you, for allowing me to grow. For allowing me to see that by making people happy, I don’t need to be less happy. It turns out it's the opposite. The more you make yourself happy, the more others are happier in return. It’s reciprocated karma of the best kind.

Thank you for doing well in school. For knowing that good grades and doing well on things would reap benefits in return. Despite late night track meets, practices and added extra curricular activities, you still studied for tests and did your homework. How you ever did it is beyond me. However, it has led you here. I have watched people suffer from the transition from high school to college; lower GPA, low grades, skipping classes because homework isn't done, etc. The main reason is because they slacked off in high school. They became comfortable with the "routine." Thank you for not settling in a "routine." Because of that, I am able to absorb the information, actually read (and enjoy) the textbook, go into tests confidently and get the most out of my education.

Don't worry about the mistakes you made. Yes, you made mistakes. You did things out of character and made stupid decisions when you shouldn't have. But, that isn't a reflection of who you are. It's called life, and life happens. Making mistakes is part of the ride. You can't move forward without making some mistakes along the way. But, thank you for those mistakes, stupid decisions and doing things out of character. You made me stronger because of it. You taught me a lesson. I know the mistakes that I will continue to make will change me, but it is the first mistakes that change who you really are. I guess those mistakes didn't turn out to be bad after all.

I loved you back then, but I love who you made me now. Someone who is strong, independent and kind. It's the reason I am the way I am. Without you, there is no me. Bryant McGill once said, "Change will never happen when people lack the ability and courage to see themselves for who they are." Thank you for allowing me to see who I really am — trust me, I am forever grateful.