Here's to you. To your harsh judgments. To your conclusions about me. To your bitter words that broke my heart. To your ridicule. To your misunderstanding. To your neglect. To your rash perceptions about me.

First, I am sorry. I am sorry that you thought every word I wrote on a page was not who I really am. I am sorry that you saw a different person walking on campus than the author of every article I post. I am sorry that you misinterpreted my thoughts, feelings, and deepest secrets. I am sorry that you think I am not a genuine person, but someone who is fake. I am sorry you think I am someone who is not who she says she is.

I honestly was going to start this off by stating a big "F" you, but realized that I actually feel bad for you. The moment you explained to me that my writing was not authentic and that my writing was not who I am, you hurt me at the most vulnerable part of myself. You neglected to see the real me, the person I fight to see every day in the mirror. I am sorry you thought that my words were merely strings of miscellaneous key strokes strung together. I am sorry that you chose to judge me instead of taking the time to get to know me. I am sorry that you still do not understand me, and potentially never will.

Because of your spiteful words, I stopped sharing myself. I stopped writing the personal thoughts that I was so fearful of speaking. I stopped revealing the person underneath that only wanted to be seen and heard. Then I realized I was losing myself. I kept covering up the person I wanted to be until I completely disappeared. I felt so abandoned by everyone who has chosen to support me, all because of an unkind comment came out of your mouth. I went back to the place I hated, after fighting so hard to steer away from there. I went to the place that I feel pressured to be who everyone wants, to be someone who conforms to those around me, to be someone who is simply not me.

So that is why this article is for you, the person who claimed I was nothing like the person who writes the pieces I post. When I heard you say those words, my soul was crushed. I listened to your harsh criticism and took it to heart. I felt like I was fake. I felt like I was not being authentic with the world. I felt like I was viewed as a liar, not just to you, but to everyone. My heart was broken, so I stopped writing and sharing.

But then I had a conversation with one of my closest friends who was hurt by the harsh words that someone else said about her writing. Immediately, I told her that her truth matters, her voice matters, and no one can take that away from her. That moment was when something internally snapped. Why am I so easily inclined to defend others' thoughts, feelings, and words, but not my own? When did I disconnect from that individual who stands up for the people she loves? What took so long for me to snap out of the tunnel that circled my mind with your harsh thoughts? Why was I so blinded by your inconsideration?

That same moment was when I realized that I was being the person you wanted me to be, and who you saw, not who I really am. For a moment I was not the girl behind the articles I post, and I was covering up the soul that continually needed to be set free.

Well, I am done. I am done listening to you, to others' opinions, and to anyone who has been using their crude thoughts to knock me down. This is and will always be my truth, and even if you disagree, at minimum I deserve your respect because I would never give you anything less in return. I love myself enough to be who I am and show the world that person, so I hope you allow yourself the same type of freedom some day.

I hope when you are reading this you understand the hurt you have caused me, and the undeniable truth behind my words. Because I am allowed to feel and express myself without your criticism. I am allowed to be me. I hope you discover the pain that I felt, and you never jump to conclusions about others and put them in the same predicament. You do not know how difficult it is for me to share my soul with the world, and people who write are so brave for doing the same thing. Our words are keys to our heart, and we simply want to unlock what is inside. Therefore, I refuse to be silenced by you, and I hope you never steal someone's thunder like you did mine. Before you jump to conclusions, look past the person strolling along campus, and realize there is more than the eye can see. We are humans: deep, complex, and beautiful, and we do not deserve to cover up who we are.