I graduated high school in the class of 2015, and it still tries to follow me. With the endless catty talk, hurtful words, and judgements being constantly passed. This is my letter calling out the people who still talk about me, but this is also for you reading, to hopefully gain solace that you shouldn't let anyone drag you down.
To the bullies: your words mean nothing to me. I'm not perfect, never was, and never will be. I will, however, acknowledge when I'm wrong, and when I've done something to hurt someone. Your malice and anger towards me only drives me to want to be a better person.
I used to be so concerned about what so many of you thought of me, but at this point your opinions don't concern me. The only person that I should make feel satisfied and proud is myself. As a person who dealt with bullying for a portion of my life, I can now say I have released so much baggage since middle school and high school. I don't let my past mistakes define me as a person, and nor should you. Mistakes are only beautiful things sometimes because they shape us into stronger people. They are the foundation of what an incredible person you are and who you are yet to be. It's essential to learn from them, and accept where you went wrong in order to move forward.
Don't let someone's judgement hold you back from becoming the person you are going to be. You live your life for you, and not for anyone else. If anyone plans to judge you, they should ask what you're going through, instead of bad mouthing you to make themselves feel better, but unfortunately that's not how all people work. Something I've reminded myself constantly is, there's going to be people who don't like me, and nothing is going to change their mind, but I've got a crowd of friends and family behind me who love me. They love me at my best and at my worst, and the people who love you do the exact same.
I used to drive myself crazy with wanting to know what I did, or what people would say about me, in order to know what I did wrong. I don't do that anymore. The people who consider me "nothing" and "an anxiety freak", are not the kind of people I should surround myself with. Anyone who uses any words that are an attack towards you shouldn't be in your life, or they should at least be told you won't tolerate it. I let people walk all over me for far too long, and as a freshman in college I sometimes look back and wish I had spoken up sooner, but I have come to peace with it. Remember, the people who don't like you, only give you more space in your heart, to allow the people who truly love and care about you in.
