We all have people in life who influence us. Some people teach us important, good things, and some give us a reason to learn from our experiences. A lot of my life has been spent trying to figure out what I’ve learned from other people, and how to interpret what I’ve learned, whether it be good or bad. I spend so much time analyzing that it makes it hard for me to sleep at night. I think, for me personally, I learn from painful experiences more often than from good experiences.

I’ve realized that’s how I became the person I am today. I also realized, one of the best ways for me to analyze and remember what I’ve gained from others, is to write. So, I do. For a long time, I kept my work to myself, only to be read and understood by my eyes. As time went on and I grew older, I concluded if I was learning from others, then maybe other people could learn from me. Which leads to me being here today, sharing my words with you.

I wanted to take the time to thank those who gave me the courage to share my words with the world. Some, I will mention by name, others, I will identify with an initial to keep them anonymous. I also want to preface that some of the reasons and people that taught me to share my words did not teach me in a healthy way, but rather the experiences created by them became something I wanted to share so that other people didn’t go through the things I’ve gone through alone. Here’s to those who built me to who I am today.

Mrs. Galyon: All good things start with an amazing teacher. Mrs. Galyon was my 5^th grade ELAR (English & Language Arts) teacher. She saw something special in me, that inspired her to test me for higher level English and Writing classes to allow me to learn at a more scholarly level. I passed with flying colors into the accelerated program for English and Writing. She was the first person to realize that my words were important. Thank you for seeing that in me and helping me to see it too.

Middle School: We all hated middle school, but I don’t think many people hated middle school as much as I did. It was a place where I was constantly seen differently and made fun of for who I was. Middle school taught me that the world is a cruel place where every person is for themselves. Thank you for shaping me and crafting me to be strong to endure even harder experiences later in life.

Mrs. Jennifer Bennett: I had the honor and privileged of having Mrs. Bennett as my teacher for all four years of high school. In a school of 3,200 students and over 200 staff, my situation was almost unheard of. My freshman year, Mrs. Bennett accidentally came across some of my work on the back of a paper I turned in, and submitted it for a creative writing award. Oddly enough, I won. Mrs. Bennett spent four years of my life, crafting me to perceive the world from other perspectives, to understand that sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay, and that the people we let into our lives, will always leave an impact, no matter how small. Thank you for constantly encouraging me to be brilliant, brave, and open hearted, no matter what I face.

J: Most everything in my life, seemingly comes back to you. You were the first person I loved in life, other than my family. You taught me how to whole-heartedly love someone else, with everything I had. My relationship with you is what gave me a voice. Although what you made me go through was almost unbearable, it gave me a reason to write. Most of my life I would jot down things floating around in the mess I call my mind, but you handed me feelings to create so many words my mind couldn’t contain it all, so I decided to write those words down. I have volumes of words about what you did to me. The good and the bad. You showed me what pure happiness feels like. Thank you for giving me a reason to write, and a way to share my experience with others who are going through the same things I did with you.

Coach Bado: As I said earlier, all good things come from a great teacher. Coach Bado was my U.S. History teacher my junior year. I have never met someone more passionate than Coach Bado. Not only is he passionate about history, but teaching, and encouraging his students, especially me. Coach Bado taught me that although the world may be a cruel place, there are people and things that can take the ugly and make it beautiful. He told me once the word that defines life is endurance. His words inspired me to write about enduring life in an exquisite way. Thank you for teaching me how to see the good in things, and how to encourage others in the way you encouraged me.

Mom: Although you aren’t aware of my writing, you gave me the courage to share my words. You have always proven to me that I am good enough for someone else, no matter what anyone else thinks. Thank you for loving me enough to give me confidence.

S: Even though we’ve had a rocky relationship, you introduced me to the Odyssey platform with the piece you wrote about me. You were the one to encourage me to also write, and to share with others the things I held inside. Thank you, for forgiving me when I didn’t deserve it, and thank you, for giving me a way to share my words.

I could go on for days, telling stories and giving gratitude to those who have been there for me and have encouraged me to be who I am today, but these people and experiences are the most prominent reasons for why I write. Once again, thank you for the good and the bad. Thank you for giving me words.