To those individuals who took time out of their lives to bully me and tell me that I was never going to be enough.

Thank you.

Yes, I am thanking you for treating me like I was nothing. Because of you treating me this way, I am a strong, confident, caring, talented, creative, intelligent, and beautiful woman. I am the woman you said I would never become. I am the person you said would never be happy, would never go to college, would never make it as an actress. I am the same girl you pushed into lockers in middle school and high school, but now I walk with my head up and a smile on my face because no one can push me to my breaking point anymore. Remember when you told me that I was disgusting, ugly, fat, alone, and unloved? I have news for you. The one that was disgusting wasn't me; it was you for thinking it was OK to treat someone like that. If you haven't seen me lately, I am beautiful. Some may not think that this is true, but I do, and that is the opinion of the person I value the most. Myself. Think I am still fat? Hate to break it to you, but I'm a woman with curves and I love it. My favorite thing is that you truly thought I would be alone and unloved and wouldn't make it to where I am today, but you were so wrong. I go to an amazing college, I have professors who care about who I am as a student as well as a person, friends who love me for who I am, sorority sisters that go out of their way to put a smile on my face, and a family who loves me more than words could ever describe. You thought you won by putting me down all those years that I seemed weak but, you actually lost. The winner in this situation was me for making it to where I am today.

For that, I thank you.

Thank you for teaching me how to be strong.

Thank you for teaching me to focus on the positives.

Thank you for teaching me the value of true friendship.

Thank you for teaching me how to be OK on my own.

Thank you for teaching me how to be there for others more than I already thought I could be.

Thank you for teaching me that asking for help is OK.

Thank you for teaching me to love my vulnerable side.

Thank you for pushing me to fight for what was best for my education.

Thank you for creating a stronger relationship between my parents and me.

Thank you for being an example of who I don't want in my life.

Thank you for making me realize that the issue wasn't me; it was you.

Most of all, thank you for teaching me to not listen to what others say, but to just love myself instead.

10 years later as I sit here and wrap up this letter to you, I have been through hell and back. I have spent countless hours sitting across from a therapist trying to understand why it was me who had to go through this. It hasn't been easy. Day after day I would ask my parents what was wrong with me and why I was the one you chose to target. Part of this process was finding the strength to push forward and focus on making the changes within myself that would free me from the pain that you caused. Learning to let go of things that were out of my control, like your behavior, was incredibly difficult, but I came to the realization that it was something that I could use to my advantage. Through many tearful conversations with my parents and professionals, I learned over the years that I had to separate myself from the people who brought negativity into my life and instead, surround myself with people who add to it. You sent me on one of the hardest journeys that I could have ever imagined and one that I would never wish on anyone else, but it has made me who I am today. I never thought I'd look forward to the future, but now it seems brighter than ever.

I can't wait.