You know those moments where you just wake up and feel completely different? That happened to me recently.

The past year has been hell. I have no other way of explaining it. So many things have happened that I could have never predicted, but that made me who I am right now. Who I am right now isn't me.

What do I mean by that, you ask? When I say "me", I refer to the person you think you know.

Now, If you compare the girl I was a year ago at this exact time, I am nothing like her anymore. That girl is like a stranger to me, and the life she was living is so different from the life I'm living. I've hung on to that life for a really long time, though, and I think I had a lot of trouble letting that go. I finally did, though. I just did. One morning I woke up and realized that there are some things that just need to be let go. Sometimes it's ok to never think about a chapter of your life that has closed, especially if that chapter reflects on a person you weren't happy being.

You know those people that step out of your life for such a long period of time? And as soon as they decide they want to come back, they expect you to be the same person they left behind? I hate those people. I hate the people that expect me to always be there for them, and I hate myself for trying to be that for them.

I've been training myself to stop giving second chances. I decided that throwing second chances around like confetti was one of my problems. I used to be the type of person that would be forgiving and understanding if someone did me wrong. That has to be the reason why some thought it was perfectly ok to walk all over me. I'm sure I'm not the only one that can say that. But I've truly had enough of it.

Some can say they know me as a lively, loud, and energetic girl... and that really hasn't changed. But if you haven't been around me in the past 6 months, it's safe to say that you don't really know who I am anymore.

Allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Samantha. I go by Sam. My favorite singer is Nick Jonas. I love the color pink, and my lucky number is 44. Pretty simple right?

Let me continue...

My favorite day of the year is June 10th. I go to college. I value my friendships with those that really matter. None of that sounds different. No. I'm still here. Some of the things that made me who I am still exists.

But some things are different...

I've had my heart smashed. I left a handful of friends in my past since High School Graduation. I stopped running competitively. I cut my long brown curly hair... a lot. A big part of my world has changed since June. But you know what? I'm ok with it. Really, I am. I'm not "me" anymore. And that's ok. I'm a brand new person- stronger and ready to tackle the world and everything else that is going to be thrown at me. I'm so ready.

I've started doing this thing where I stick up for myself more, and It's really great. I've found myself to be a lot happier and realizing who should be in my life and who I can survive perfectly fine without. I've started seeing the world a little clearer, and it's really awesome.

So, if you haven't had the chance to meet the person I am now, I hope you do soon. The person I am now compared to the person I was a year ago is so much stronger.

If I haven't introduced myself to you within the past 6 months, allow me to do so now. My name is Samantha. I go by Sam. And I love the person I've become. I hope you will too.