Dear Little Overachiever,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvn76qDP7L
#TheOriginOfTheHurt
You thought if you brought home high grades,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUx1u9wGxY
they would finally say, "We're proud of you."
You chased medals,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2DlNEnVkL
starred papers,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4a8b2179l
top honors—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWzr2SqHy9
as if love could be earned through certificates.
You memorized lessons not just to pass,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o8VJDTFj2
but to matter.
You smiled on recognition days,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHW3Imi5tK
searching the crowd for faces that never fully lit up for you.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3RilJ4gGN
Or worse, weren't even there.
When you failed—once or twice,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5ZExPL1dM
you weren't asked how you were coping,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NcvWJRb07
but why you didn't do better.
You learned that excellence was expected—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkue6LJaaBz
not celebrated.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYfeRKEx8q
That your worth depended on how useful, smart, or impressive you could be.
But no one noticed you were tired.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGvYbTSKEj
That your back hurt not from your school bag—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LIQQoBweN
but from trying to carry their expectations.
You weren't seeking applause.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69FL3BYfmN
Just affection.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjqdhtmH7t
Just someone to say,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOHN4Idwhc
"I see how hard you're trying."
But love didn't come as a reward.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhHoUhr9Ux
And your effort, while outstanding, was treated as default.
So, listen to me now:
Your worth is not a grade.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ccIwroEJ
Your value is not measured by medals.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV4orUqg5E
And your heart?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O5mbMArgB
Deserved more than performance-based affection.
You were brilliant—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhPUQ08TV2
not just in school,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvUblR70v1
but in how you kept trying23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlUBkMebg6
despite the silence,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h83OLyPRM
despite the emotional drought.
You didn't fail them.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjC86Remz7
They failed to see you.
But I do.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBCtSfruFr
I see that little girl.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAqp8SJuvU
And I am so proud of her.
Not because she was perfect—23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwrLhmJkVb
but because she was persistent, kind,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceL3fpj6ua
and brave enough to keep hoping.
You are not a disappointment.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVUitYEhWb
Never were.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRsc9bHwCC
Never will be.
Love,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiZPhWNmK6
The You who finally stopped asking for permission to feel enough
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPjPZhmn5k
and then Add to home screen.