Dear Bipolar Depression,

Thank you.

I know it's weird to thank you for putting me in a deep hole where I felt like I could never get back up, but I am. I didn't realize this at the time, but you have made me a much stronger person. I spent most of my life letting other people push me around, but thanks to you I got sick of it, and I found my voice. I found my passion.

During those two years where you were at your worst, you helped me rediscover my love of movies, and helped me realize why I fell in love with the art of film and storytelling in the first place. Sure, you made me doubt myself over and over again, but in the end, you showed me that I am my own worst critic and that I need to be more lenient with myself.

Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. If my life had played out the way I had planned then, sure I would have probably left home four years ago with the intent of studying journalism, so I could ultimately work for a top tier newspaper, and while that would have been nice, it would have also been extremely stressful. I am a workaholic. I have to drag myself away from editing over the weekend just so I can have a break, and since the news doesn't sleep, I wouldn't either.

Thanks to you, I figured out that I don't want to live a super stressful life. Yes, I still want to impact people with my words, but you helped me find a new medium to share my voice.

Without you, I never would have had the opportunity to join Odyssey. Because you made me depressed to do any of my Spanish work the first time, you gave me the chance to retake it, and this time I met Maggie, our fearless President and one of my best friends.

You gave me a different perspective on life. Thanks to you, I know that life isn't like a movie. People are mean, and people will try to tear you down. But there are still good people in this world, and you helped me weed out the ones who aren't.

Sure, I hate you when you make me so depressed that I can't get out of bed, but I know now that you are forcing me to recharge because I tend to over-exhaust myself.

You are not this super villain that everyone puts you out to be. In reality, you are my annoying sidekick that always gets your way. But I am no longer going to fight you.

Everything happens for a reason. I got you for a reason, and I couldn't be more thankful.

So thank you Bipolar Depression.

Now please lower your voice so I can get some school work done.