By Zara Quiter, TIWP Student

1. I’ve become someone who values spending time with people that make her happy, not the people that make her anxious.
2. I’ve become someone who backs out when she needs to, instead of just following the crowd.
3. I’ve become someone who is unabashedly competitive and motivated, and happy to relish in her newfound strength.
4. I care a lot about my hair now. Not for anyone else, but for me. For me, I care.
5. I care a lot about my school now. Not like how I used to feel disgruntled by it. For my school, I care.
6. I care a lot about my city now. Not anger, but pride. For Oakland, I care.
7. I can recognize sadness.
8. I can comfortably yell.
9. I can learn forgiveness.
10. I can teach joy.
11. I can react thoughtfully.
12. I can write poetry without being depressed. That took me a long time to understand.
13. I improve when I try hard. I try hard when I improve.
14. I am proud of myself for that.
15. I know it’s okay to miss things.
16. I know it’s normal to be annoyed.
17. I know how to manage my obsessions.
18. I do things for myself. For my friends. For my family. For my community. For my world.
19. I don’t do things for college: Grades do not define me. I wish more people understood that.
20. I forgot how to love some things. That’s okay.
21. I remembered how to love other things. That’s great.
22. I recall how to hold grudges. And I don’t.
23. I don’t sing for anyone, but I still sing.
24. I truly love who I’ve become. No. I love who I was, who I am, who I will be.
25. The fifth perfect square. I’ve become happy. Again.