Oh, Summer...sometimes I think you left me too quickly. But then I realize, it was time. Time to move on, time for change, time for growth and new opportunities, time to heal, time to learn, time to figure out how to refit into my skin. Because the last three summers have taught me how to expand, to live life more fully. But they've also greatly raised my ideals. And it's time to take that expansion, and make it more realistic, more reasonable, while still holding on to the infinite possibilities that it originally contained. I think summers are on my list of the best things that have happened to me lately.

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
--Nelson Mandela

So true. A good friend and I were discussing this quote a few days ago, and it always applies to my school situation. To my constant frustrations and struggles. And I always end up changing myself back in order to adapt to my surroundings. And that is the wrong way of going about anything. So, I'm not giving in this time, I'm holding my ground. I have changed, and that is natural and it's what is supposed to happen, and I'm not going to let anyone attack me for that. I'm sorry I'm not who you thought I was anymore.

It's funny how the same conversation yields different fruit from different people, and piecing together that information has proved to be wonderful. It's helped me to discover new things about myself. Things I didn't think to be true. People see things in you sometimes that you have no idea you are exuding. And it's comforting and encouraging to hear about them. I have the potential to be strong, so I'm going to take advantage of that strength. And it's time I made some real strides towards becoming the person I want to be, and am supposed to be. Because what that is is becoming more and more clear to me. And while I'm completely ready for a change of scenery, there is still more to learn and I should be ready to dive back into life, head first. But on my terms this time.