When I think about who could read my book, a lot of possibilities pop up in my head: a middle school girl learning who to stand into this world, a 25 years old boy reading something with the name of his girlfriend's favorite flower, or even a 55 old lady trying to keep up with the trends nowadays. Whoever you are, you have my appreciation. Because you read. Because when you read, to grow and glow more as a person. Read whatever. Be free. 

Now, for middle schoolers, I'm pretty sure most of you have been there. You think of it as a special moment in your youth. But would you care to hear someone who didn't feel the same way? 

At first, I was so impatient to get out of there and grow up. There were many obstacles. Broken friendships, lies, conspirations, anger. I spend my last year there thinking about how time flies and hating that place. I had all the reasons to hate that place, yet none of them were strong enough. That was a place where I've learned how to protect myself, how to speak up, how to care for myself, and don't get myself get beaten up. My pride and my determination were bigger with every day. I've also had my first true friend. Those are good things, right? Yes, but the way I've learned them was too much for a dreamy girl, who used to think people were fundamentally good and that the world was a safe place. The way I've learned who to survive mentally in this world left me with a deep scar, which was healed with the thoughts of hate for that place. Now, thinking about those times, I think I can forgive and forget everything. But not completely. I can't open up an old scar healed using hate, to heal it again with love. It is too late. But I don't seem to regret it if you are thinking that. I'm proud of myself for going through all of that and being able to write about this.

 If you've had times like this as well, you should be also proud of yourself. You survived everything that came in your way. Every battle leaves a scar. But that scar is the proof that you are still alive and that you won. Be proud of that scar. You don't need to do anything else. Don't meet up with the people who messed up those years. This will make you feel the old emotions as fresh as back then. Don't go to that place. You will most likely regret some decisions and open up some long-healed scars. Leave them as it is now. Let bygones be bygones. Forgive and forget. Sometimes is better to forgive, even if it's hard than to live filled with hate. Just let go. 

This is for you, school, for making me learn the real values of life, and for gifting me with a long-lasting person. Thank you for showing me how cruel life can be. For showing me how ironic life can be. And also how fair life can be. I forgive you now. For all the things. Just be a little lenient with others. Just because I could carry it so well, didn't mean it wasn't heavy. Some could break. 

Did you do my exercise? What are you grateful for? I'm now putting another thing on the list: I'm grateful that I had the power to bring myself to forgive all of those years and to get rid of the hate for that place. Let's do something else. At the end of each day, name something you are grateful for. It can be whatever, but not the same as yesterday. Fill your life with gratefulness. Be grateful for what you have. But work hard for what you want.