It isn’t always easy. When you’re living in a place where everyone knows everyone else, gossip often circulates. People love to talk about other people -- how intelligent you are, who you’re dating, what you’re doing in your free time. You’re constantly being judged.

I have not only been judged, I have been doubted. My successes were minimized in other people’s conversations and every mistake I made was highlighted. Sometimes I couldn’t go a day without hearing my name in somebody else’s mouth, and most of the time it wasn’t something I wanted to hear.

People made fun of the things I love most, the things that make me happy. They questioned my ability to succeed. They didn’t believe I could do the things I said I was going to do. They didn’t believe I could achieve the goals I had set for myself. But I accomplished exactly what they said I couldn’t.

To the people who doubted me: thank you. Thank you for making me work harder. Each time I heard you say that I couldn’t do it, you simply made me want to do it more. You made me push myself to be more successful than I had already planned.

Thank you for trying -- and failing -- to hurt me. You tried to bring me down, but you only made me a stronger person. You taught me how to take criticism and use it to make me better. Your comments can’t hurt me because I know not to let them get to me. I know how to use them as motivation.

Thank you for shaping the person I have become. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t have learned how to handle the adversity. Without you, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I have. As I get older, I will continue to meet my goals, despite your doubts. I will continue to find success and I can’t wait to prove you wrong once again.

I want you to know that I forgive you. I forgive you for all the mean things you said to or about me. I know underneath the front you put up to make yourself look better, you probably doubt yourself, too. I won’t hold a grudge against you, and instead, I will hope that one day you’ll come to terms with yourself like I have. One day, you’ll use the criticism to better yourself instead of allowing it to bring you down.