I don’t know where to start, but I can assure you that I went through some stuff where life felt like a battle for me. Waking up every day felt like a job. School was such an ugly place to be in. I had reached rock bottom, meaning I was at my lowest.

Thank God, I had no suicidal thoughts, because if I had I would have not been where I am today. Even now, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to even express myself in this manner, through writing.

In my hurt and pain, I knelt down and prayed. I cried to God asking why my life had to turn out this way. The bullying, the trolls and nasty comments I would get from my classmates and the loneliness I experienced. Somebody told me that loneliness is with you, not in you. But deep in my heart, I knew that I was lonely, those where just words of comfort.

I knew that life is a battle and I needed to face it. Today, I’m grateful and proud to be the confident person I’ve always admired to be. Yes, life is hard, but I need to get on with it. Yes, I am different and I need to embrace that fully. I have a story to tell that I know will inspire many. These are not my words but I’ll say it because it feels so right: inspire to aspire before you expire.

I will tell my story one day and it will inspire many to rise above their challenges. I’m happy with who I am and what I’ve become and I would not trade that for anything else. I’m grateful to have found purpose in life which is very difficult for many of my peers. My purpose is to uplift someone, either emotionally, spiritually, mentally, financially or in any way that I can, I know that I have to give some parts of me to positively have an impact in other people’s lives.

I aspire to be a professional educator. Through my teachings in the classroom and beyond the classroom, I seek to change lives.

I have found my purpose to help people heal emotionally so that they can also have the opportunity to reflect on their lives. Do not hesitate to light a candle for your dreams, no matter how big or small they are, even when life feels like a wound.

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