Dear Demi,

I know you've heard it all before, one lovatic after another, thanking you and reminding you how you've saved them - after every concert, during every meet and greet, embedded in every tweet. But despite your heroism and strength, I know it must have been hard facing your deepest struggles in front of the whole world and bearing the burden of responsibility when it came to saving the lives of everyone around you - especially when you had a hard time managing your own. It was hard for me too and I wasn't in the spotlight that you were. You dealt with a great amount of vulnerability and exposure and I thank you for opening up like that.

I sometimes say that we live parallel lives (minus the fame part) and of course to you that must sound crazy being that you don't know anything about me. But I have looked up to you in so many ways for as long as I can remember. I've always wanted to be just like you, in an-annoying-little-sister kind of way. I was never one to go all fan-girl over celebrities because as you know, you're all human beings just like the rest of us. And you, above anyone, has proven that.

When I watched your Staying Strong documentary for the first time - all of the secrets and underlying issues that you had been dealing with was news to me. I sobbed alone in my bed and I'll admit I spent hours googling your name that night, reading every article, watching every YouTube video - learning about the pain you were feeling, because watching it and seeing all of that pain unfold was much like watching a documentary on myself and my own life. It almost felt as if I was the one being exposed in front of the world. At the time, I had been going through some identical issues for about three years.

With your relatable struggles and not so "picture perfect" life that everyone else had seen on TV and magazines, it was a very comforting feeling knowing that someone like you (a Disney channel pop star and unbelievable vocalist) could be as similar as someone like me. I remember feeling the exact same way you said you felt while going through what you did. It was actually weird how in sync every single one of our thoughts and emotions were.

"I lived fast and I was going to die young," you said. "I didn’t think I would make it to 21."

It's scary because I can honestly say I didn't even think I was going to make it to 18 and in just one year from now I'll be turning 21.

I'll never forget the first concert of yours that I ever went to. I was 17 years old, it was at the Izod center and from where I was sitting you looked like nothing other than a tiny little ant. But the second you came through onto that stage and I heard your voice live, I nearly had a heart attack (get it?). It was from that point on I decided that if you could do it, then so could I. You were my strength that night - as well as everyone else in that venue full of lovatics. And so, a couple months later on my eighteenth birthday I decided to go and get my second tattoo. This time, to remind myself of my own strength from that point on - and the strength that I could be for others too.

I'll be honest, there were times after this in which I had been broken and didn't quite live up to the standards of being a true "warrior." But you helped me find my strength time and time again until I went off to college and I met my best friend. She was my shoulder to lean on as I was hers. And together we helped each other find our strength. Later on, we joined a sorority whose philanthropy is To Write Love On Her Arms. Every day, we fight for this amazing cause and raise tons of awareness for those who are going through what we have conquered. I was even nicknamed "warrior." (Shout out to my Big)

Now although this isn't even the bulk of it - over seven years later from the start of it all for me - today I am strong enough to tell my story too. Of course, I still struggle. But today, I stand tall. And today, I am a warrior. Thanks to you, Demi. So, keep doing what you do and never give up (because we both know you still feel like that might be the easiest sometimes). No matter what, always remember that your lovatics have your back. Stay Strong.

Sincerely,

a fellow warrior.