Growing up, I grew up like a rose.

Prone to disease 

And in need of constant, diligent care

With clingy, sharp thorns

Like that fragile, emotional flower 

There was me

A person in need of real care in order to grow.

I found fresh, new soil to grow in my freshman year.

With different flowers lining the dirt, creating a beautiful garden.

With all the different colors and variations of flowers

There were zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, and petunias. 

Colorful, bright flowers that were quick and easy to grow.

That didn’t require much care and didn't have sharp thorns to contend with.

However, I got to grow next to them and see them grow and blossom.

As I grew with them, they outgrew me.

Some outgrew me quickly in the same year I found them.

Leaving but coming back through the wind to check to see my growth.

Sometimes they had to water me to keep me at least alive. 

Other times, I was standing tall, not in need of much but a fix of dirt.

Others stuck around to grow a little longer alongside me.

As they needed that time to grow, too.

Needed me to help them grow in a similar way to how I needed them.

However, they still ended up growing to their fullest potential for that soil. 

So they had to move on to find new, more fitting soil.

To find their bouquet.

There are still flowers in my garden that are going to outgrow me this year.

However, I noticed that that is all a part of making the garden.

My garden.

I am not the same flower I was because I got to see and be a part of others' growth.

Which, in turn, made me grow better.

I am thankful for the flowers that were in this soil before me.

They are the reason why I get to grow my own flowers for the next two years.

I get to figure out how to help other roses grow.

I get to start the next generation's garden better than mine.

I am still growing up.

However, this time, like a sunflower.

Bright, knowing, loving, and easy-going.

“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing cause I built my life around you.”-Fleetwood Mac (Landslide, 1975)