Growth, strength, and endurance. Things I never thought would describe myself. If you were to ask me a year ago if I would be living the life I am today, I would have laughed in your face. Growing up wasn’t my cup of tea, I didn’t think it would ever be.

A year ago, I was head over heels in love, I was gearing up for Miss North Dakota round two, and I was getting ready to student teach. I didn’t think life would get any better than it was at that very moment. Everything was picture perfect. I had the boy, the new townhouse, the dog, and the dream job within my grasp. Perfection.

In a matter of weeks, I lost it all — or at least I thought I did. The boy I loved let me go without a care in the world, I didn’t accomplish the dream of Miss North Dakota, and I was terrified of the upcoming semester at school. I was so lost and felt like I had nowhere to go in life anymore. I didn’t know up from down, and I was shattered. Life had hit me like a wrecking ball and I didn’t see myself getting up.

It’s been a year since then, and I can’t tell you how much things have changed for the good. I started lifting weights more, focusing on myself, I put love on the back burner, and I still set the goal of Miss North Dakota.

I am slowly becoming the girl I have always wanted to be. I have some of the most amazing friends by my side, I have two fun loving fur kids to keep me on my toes, I’m in the process of the "big kid" job hunt, and I’m learning to love myself more and more every day.

Finding who I was and who I wanted to be was a long journey, and it doesn’t just end now. I’ll always be looking for the new and improved me throughout my entire life. One day, I’ll be in search of the new and improved wife version of me, the mom version of me, and the teacher version. You’re never done growing up. That would take all the fun out of life.

I’ve come farther in a year than I ever thought possible and I’m so proud of that. I went from the broken girl without a leg to stand on, to the girl who doesn’t need to depend on anyone but herself.

So, new me: keep fighting your fight, because it’s never going to be over. It’s always going to be there, and the negatives may outweigh the positives one day, but you’ll be okay. Love will come, the crown will too, and you’ll live the best life possible. I promise.