I am strong enough to overcome the obstacles I encounter and that is what makes me amazing. I suffer from depression and have low self esteem. I have made numerous selfish decisions trying to find something that would make me feel better. Most often, I would turn to cutting. My scars have healed well, but some of them will be there for the rest of my life.

I have been to several different treatment facilities and some of them only made things worse. One place I went had the philosophy that in order to fix troubled or “problem” teenagers they had to knock all of the strength and hope out of them by taking away every freedom they once had. They wanted to take our individuality so that we would fit a cookie-cut mold. They may have had good intentions and wanted to help people, but they did more harm than good to those they were supposed to help.

I hated it there. I was strong enough to survive through it. When I got out, I knew the only way to make sure I never had to go back was to get the help I needed to get better. I knew that even if the process of change seemed difficult, it would be worth it when it was over.

I have ruined several relationships because of the decisions I made. I now stand in the aftermath of my own destruction. All I can do now is try to fix what is left and find new things to help fill the hole of what I have lost. I do not dwell on what I have lost; I find the hope that I have for the future. I no longer wear long sleeves to hide my scars; I am not ashamed of them. They are a reminder of what I have overcome.

I am more than my depression. I am strong-willed, creative, and nice. My passion is in the arts and in English. I love reading and writing and I want to become an author someday. I hope that people will learn from my mistakes so they do not have to go through what I had to. I want to have the closest thing to a storybook ending that reality will allow. However, I will not sit around expecting it to happen on its own. I will fight for my happiness.

I am not amazing because I have lived a perfect life or have the body of a model. If anything, it is my imperfections that make me unique. I am amazing because of my ability to rise from my faults and obstacles. I will one day be everything I have ever wanted to be. If you ask me, that's pretty amazing.