Dear younger me,

I know the days felt heavy.

I know the classroom didn’t always feel safe,

and the laughter in the corridors wasn’t always kind.

They called you names,

mocked your voice,

made you feel small.

And little by little, you stopped believing in yourself.

But here’s what I wish you knew then

One day, you’ll rise.

You’ll find your voice and stand tall,

not just for yourself, but for others who feel voiceless.

You’ll realise their words never defined your worth

they only revealed their own insecurities.

So, hold on.

The same girl they tried to break will one day walk into any room with her head high,

unshaken, unstoppable, unafraid.

And when you look in the mirror,

you won’t see the girl they bullied.

you’ll see the woman who survived and learned to stand.

With love and pride,

Your future self.

By Dinah More