As we get older we seem to realize that not everyone we meet will treat us the way we would treat them, we find that the things we do aren't going to be easy, and we come to the conclusion that certain people in our lives, whether they treated us well or poorly, helped us become who we are today.

Thank you to the girls in high school who were, to put it nicely, not kind. The ones who made you feel dumb or out of the loop on purpose. The ones who rubbed your imperfections in your face knowing it would hurt. The girls who thought it would be funny to bring up things to you in your past that you weren't proud of just so they could see your reaction. Those girls were the girls you realized eventually weren't your real friends and that you needed to find others to put your trust in. So thank you for helping me find my true friends and for also giving me the courage to know when something is toxic to me. Thank you for making me realize I didn't need to fit in in that way, and for finally treating myself better.

Thank you to the people who told me I couldn't do something and making me prove to them and myself that I could do it. Thank you for making me fight more than ever to prove you wrong.

Thank you to the person who made me hit rock bottom in confidence and made me bring myself back up again. I never would have been able to prove my self-worth to myself without you. Thank you for tearing me down consistently so that I could learn to build my strength more and more.

Thank you to my teachers who taught me to work for the things I wanted and to work for the achievements I accomplished. I wouldn't be at the college I am at without you.

Thank you to all my coaches for teaching me to better myself even when I didn't have the courage to do it. I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard without you.

Thank you to my best friend for always being the support system I needed. Without you, high school and college would be much harder. Your love and humor is what got me through some days. Thank you for always being there when I need you and showing me what a true best friend is like.

Thank you to my family for always believing in my abilities when I didn't. Thank you for being there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for helping me through all the tough times and for being there to cheer me on during my achievements. You guys are my all and I don't know where I'd be without you.

Thank you to the man I call my boyfriend. Thank you for proving to me that people are still amazing individuals that will treat you with respect. Thank you for loving me during my good and my bad times. Thank you for supporting me no matter what. Thank you for letting me be me and for letting me love you with all my capacity. Without you I wouldn't be who I am and wouldn't be as happy as I am.