After being on this Earth for 19 years now, I would like to proudly say that I have developed a general sense of who I am. I know that there are still so many experiences to shape who I am in the future, but as of right now I feel confident in saying I know who I am and I am comfortable being that person. There have been so many people around me that I have to thank for helping me become who I am today. Here are a few general thankyou's to those who helped me realize who I am and become comfortable being that person.

To the doubters,

Thank you for being you. Without you, I would not have become the strong person I am today. You would tell me that I wasn’t good enough, that there were always going to be people better than me, smarter than me, funnier than me, prettier than me, more athletic than me. I must admit for the longest time I hated you in every way possible and I have released so much anger and tears on your behalf, but without you, I wouldn’t have challenged myself in every way. I wouldn’t have worked so hard to get better at everything I did if I did not have you to prove wrong. Thank you for being that extra push I needed to work harder.

To my supporters,

You are the reason why I wake up every morning hopeful. No matter what life has thrown at me, you were always there to keep me going even when I was down in the dumps. You helped brighten even the darkest of times when it felt like nothing could go right. Thank you for believing that I would survive that really hard exam and pass with flying colors. Thank you for doing something as simple as tell me I did a good job while doing something I'm passionate about. I owe you the world for helping me stop doubting my abilities and working towards always being a better person.

To the famous feminists,

Thank you for teaching me to be confident and letting me know that it is okay for me to love every aspect of myself. Thank you for also teaching me that there's nothing wrong with being a girl. For a long time, I always believed that my life would be easier and better if I was a boy, but you taught me that being a female is great. Thank you for teaching me that women can do anything that men can. Thank you for inspiring me to have my sassy, confident moments. Thank you specifically to singers like Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and many others for performing songs that encourage me to break traditional gender roles and show males that we are equals in every way. Thank you for showing me that being an independent woman should be something to strive for not fear due to the lack of a male presence telling me how much they love me.

To all of these different people I am ever so grateful! Thank you for helping me realize who I am and how to be happy with myself. I could not be the person I am today without all of you combined.