Author Kaci Diane once said, "I love the person I've become because I fought to become her."

Not one person in their early twenties is the same person they were as a child. It may be because of their parents, friends, teachers, or an event they witnessed.

The key is to keep your morals. Remember who you are, but let these things change you, not hurt you, and be happy with yourself.

I am, here's why.

1. I worked through my anxiety.

Going through anxiety is like being stuck in a deep hole that you just can't seem to climb your way out of. However, I found my way out, and I know you can too. So many people suffer from anxiety and feel like there's no getting out. But I want to remind you that there is hope. Anxiety is just worry and nervousness usually about an event or something you can't control. You may not think so, but there is a way to overcome it. I'm open to admitting that I got help, I talked to someone, took medications. But the best advice I can give you is to find yourself. And that's what I did.

2. I found myself.

I've been through the worst of anxiety, the hell hole that is depression and through all of that I realized that it was all because I never took the time to find myself. I was never happy, but once I accepted that about myself, I was able to fight the negativity inside me, realize who I am and exactly what I needed to change.

3. I found where I belong.

I had amazing friends, a great family, but I wasn't happy where I was. As many people experience, depression doesn't make it easy to just be happy and accept who you are. It takes a lot to dig deep within yourself and realize exactly what you need to change. For me, I decided to move. I left my comfort zone to find myself. And it worked. I'm not suggesting to drop everything you have and move. But I am asking that you look deep inside yourself, realize what you are doing wrong, and find where you belong, what you can do to make yourself happy.

4. I reconnected with my family.

It's hard to stay connected with family when you're away with school, living with your best friends. Face it, the majority of what you are thinking about is yourself. Your school work, your job, your friends, and probably what you're doing that weekend, more than your grandmother that lives states away. What I, and most other people, didn't realize, is that your family is your biggest support system. Staying connected with extended family made me feel good about myself. They can give you the love and support that you need especially if you are going through something serious like anxiety or depression. Plus, you can really learn a lot from older relatives.

5. I realized who my friends are.

Besides your family, having a great group of friends so so important to have when you're going through something as difficult as a mental illness. Remember, it's all out quality, not quantity. Find a few very close friends that you can trust with anything. I found my crazy group of friends that may be wild but are always there when I need them the most. Let go of the people that aren't there for the right reasons, and keep around the ones that truly care. I promise they're out there.

6. I let go of negative people.

I have just two words of advice for anyone in a bad relationship: get out. Anyone that makes you cry, or feel bad about yourself is no good for you. Everyone fights, and gets into arguments, but if it's at a point of you just being unhappy, there's no need to be a part of it. It's hard to let go, but remember, you'll be OK. You have friends, and family, and a lot of people that are there for you. There's no reason to hang onto anything that makes you sad. Let the negativity free from your body.

7. I found "my person."

You may have a ton of friends and a lot of families, but everyone really does need one person they can go to. Someone that will tell them how it is, give you a shoulder to cry on, and just generally be there for you when you need it the most. It could be a significant other, a best friend, or a family member. Whoever it may be, find someone you can fully trust, that makes your days better. I found mine and I am truly thankful for him. If you're reading this, thank you for all that you do.

8. I realized the importance of being healthy.

A big part of depression is not loving you, and that starts with being healthy. It doesn't matter if you are the skinniest, best-looking person, when you're not eating healthy and maintaining a good exercise routine, you feel disgusted with yourself. I would wake up in the morning completely hating myself. I never knew why, but I would shower and still feel so gross I wouldn't want to leave my room for the rest of the day. Then it hit me. I drank way too much, ate too much pizza and rarely left my couch. I knew that needed to change.

Feeling good about yourself, however, doesn't have to be hard. Myself, I kept drinking on the weekends with my friends, kept ordering that pizza (but started limiting it), but I also started to just generally eat healthier. Just cutting out sugary snacks, and desserts can make you feel better. Drink water, you have no idea how different you'll feel after a day of water. So start a new diet, don't make it too difficult, and start working out, even if it is just a walk around your neighborhood once a day. I promise you'll start to feel better, and love yourself again.

9. I found my dream job.

I have been working since I was fifteen. Job after job, I hated each one more than the other. I was strictly working for the paycheck so going to work for me was basically hell and calling out began to become a hobby of mine. My mother realized how depressing it was for me to go to work, and gave me the best advice I have ever received: to love what you do.

I realized my passion for helping kids when I was younger but never picked up a job that related to it. Finally, I applied as an assistant teacher and have now worked my way up to doing exactly what I've always wanted, having my own classroom, and helping my preschoolers grow every day. My advice to you is to find what you love, and work towards it. It may not be fun at first, but hell is it worth it to not hate going into work every day.

10. I realized what I need to work on.

Being stuck in that hole may feel like your life is over, but it's not. It might even be a blessing, a chance to realize what is wrong, what you need to change, and eventually, what makes you happy. Once you realize what's holding you back, you can move forward. The most important part is letting the past stay in the past and focusing on your focus, bettering yourself, and becoming who you want to be.

Now, I challenge you, to find yourself. Find your happiness, where you belong, and understand why. I want you to love the person you are, because you fought to become her, just like me.