To all of my high school classmates who didn't believe in me,

It's been awhile since we last talked. The last encounter we probably had was somewhere in the halls of low self-esteem filled with floors and walls of belittling and immaturity. It probably involved me trying my best in something I loved, or you catching me in a moment of feeling invincible and taking it from under my feet.

Since 2013, I want you to know I've accomplished quite a bit, without you. I left the town that you're stuck in because you're too afraid to leave, only because you know very well that saying good-bye like I did would include the likelihood of people actually standing up to you and telling you how mean you were. I made friends that push me harder in the best ways possible while you're stuck with the same crowd that only brought you down. And I know for a fact I'm chasing my dreams more than I ever have; not because I wanted to prove you wrong, but I wanted to prove myself right.

I didn't wear the latest shoes and go to the craziest parties with you because I had bigger fish to fry in order to start the road of achieving what I wanted. I still hear your laughter when you thought I took things too seriously or too hard.

But now, that laughter is sweet, sweet music, because I'm doing something with my life. I'm doing the very things in life that I love that you always mocked me for, because I was passionate, starting in high school. You did everything you could to take that drive from me, to tell me the things that I wanted to go for I could never get because of who I was.

Well I'm here to tell you, that because I never changed and was strong enough to not care about being cool in those 4 years, that I love the life you thought I was never capable of living. I kept my ambition even though you had many days you tried taking it, and I pushed so hard that it's practically made me collapse.

But yet, here I am, bolder than ever loving my life more than I ever have. So you can keep laughing 200 miles away and still talk all the trash you need to make yourself feel better. Just know I'm done picking up your litter of words and I've blossomed into something I only use to dream of.

I pray that if you haven't already, that you take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you like what you see. There were multiple days where you made me question myself on that same thing, but I'm so glad you did because I knew that the person in my reflection was something to be proud of. I'm not waiting for an apology, and I'm not looking for anymore fights.

Know that what I've chosen speaks enough for the both of us. Thank you for showing me that I'm more than fine being who I always was, because it's taken me further than you would ever give me credit for. Hope you're becoming all you can away from the four years we spent together.

Love,
The Girl Who Finally Won