Love Everyone and Give them all a chance.

This was the first year that I had the opportunity to attend Pride Fest in Knoxville this summer. Although I've never had a problem with accepting one another, seeing all of the positive energy throughout the day was amazing to be around and really showed me what love is all about. I also became very close to someone who is a part of the transgender community. I learned through his certain struggles that he has had to face and still has to face. He has also been someone who has also helped me stay confident in myself. I am very lucky to be there in his life and make sure he is always happy. It really makes me feel like I have done something right.

It can be better to say goodbye

I finally shared my story about a very toxic relationship that I was in that ended in the beginning of this year. I uploaded it to this website and the feedback I got from it made me feel like I was no longer alone in that situation. The relationship taught me strength and dignity, which is very hard to feel in situations where someone has the possible intention of making you feel inferior to them. I learned that instead of causing myself the pain of staying with someone and trying to fix something that caused me so much pain that it is a better idea if I left the relationship instead. Although it was one of the hardest things to do, a huge amount of weight was lifted off my shoulders.

One bad grade will not end your life

I have never been the best in school, but when the semester ends, I always end up pulling through. I have successfully been an all A's and (mostly) B's student. With the first semester of my senior year coming to and end, I am going to receive my first C throughout high school. While typing this down, I'm realizing how absolutely ridiculous it is that I am spending my time stressing so much over one grade. I am truly grateful for even being able to live in an environment that pushes me to get good grades in the first place. I am still going to attend a wonderful college in the fall of 2019 and my pre-calculus grade will not get me kicked out. So if I can do it, so can you.

Spend time with your family

I cannot stress this enough. My older sister lives five and a half hours away from me, so my parents and I don't get to see her as much as we would like to. When she is in town or when I am in town, I always want to spend as much time with her as I can. This is also my last year living at home because I am attending a college two hours away from where I live. I love living at home with my parents because I always have a good feeling of safety and comfort. My mom always puts so much effort into making me good meals for dinner and for my lunch.

Do not do anything without a purpose

Lately I have been in a battle with myself and with swimming. I have felt that I haven't really been getting better and it's become a job for me to get myself up in the mornings for practice. I will always love the sport along with the way it makes me feel when I glide through the water. I have been lucky enough to decide I am swimming at a collegiate level in the year 2019. That is a possible reason that I am still continuing something that is making me so tired. I know that perseverance and having a good attitude will keep be going. Even if it's a small reason, I know that my heart will always belong to the sport of swimming.