I know I can't speak for others but I also know I'm not alone in saying that I have spent too much time on the wrong people.

It takes a lot for me to realize what I deserve. Yes, I have the perfect image of my love life, my friends, my job, and my future. But that doesn't mean that along the course of finding these things, I haven't settled for less. I have settled for mediocre relationships and unhealthy friendships because at the time, I feel that is what I deserved. In my short 18 years of life I have experienced some of the greatest joys spurned by the most equally wonderful people; but I have also cried a great deal of tears and spent far too long amounts of time mourning the loss of those who remain completely un-phased by my absence.

It has taken some time for me to realize this importance and I don't know if I'll ever understand fully the extent of my worth, but my expertise is recognizing the worth of others, so whoever is reading this, this one is for you. You deserve kind hearts and long hugs on nights when you feel alone. You deserve acceptance, quirks and all. You deserve someone who laughs at your corny jokes, rather than your painful mistakes. The careful care and consideration you put behind your words before expressing them, you deserve the same from all those you experience. You deserve people who wait until you are safely inside before pulling off, and people who will answer your phone calls no matter what time of the night. You deserve honesty and effort, but most of all you deserve someone who is going to stick around through adversity.

Everyone single person is deserving of a love worthy of major motion pictures, of camaraderie that makes saying goodbye for summer vacation or closing your eyes during a night spent together seem impossible.

No one should ever feel compelled for a profession that is any less than a passion, and they damn sure deserve better than anyone that doubts or belittles what they are passionate about.

If you are reading this your future is bright. It is gleaming, and it may even frighten some who were lucky enough to glimpse into it. If anyone ever has the audacity to doubt just how amazing you are, to take for granted the potential you can be, then they- my friend- are a temporary person. I call you my friend because I realize just how lucky anyone is to know who you are. We all deserve people like that. We all deserve the very best and we don't ever, nor should we ever, settle for any less.

All people deserve positive figures in our life that never try to diminish who we are or what we stand for. No, it's not an easy journey realizing all that you deserve, but I promise it's worth it, and we are in this together.