Dear Little Overachiever,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed1yh9roG5
#TheOriginOfTheHurt
You thought if you brought home high grades,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WDbipdq59
they would finally say, "We're proud of you."
You chased medals,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFGAseGhst
starred papers,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtpCXffP0c
top honors—405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NQIlr79DQ
as if love could be earned through certificates.
You memorized lessons not just to pass,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx3XjI0Vch
but to matter.
You smiled on recognition days,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYSzCcvVWf
searching the crowd for faces that never fully lit up for you.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUh8rR5cvQ
Or worse, weren't even there.
When you failed—once or twice,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBHPMeoW4r
you weren't asked how you were coping,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDImhPNvw6
but why you didn't do better.
You learned that excellence was expected—405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfSqiJf1zL
not celebrated.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY7lSy8o75
That your worth depended on how useful, smart, or impressive you could be.
But no one noticed you were tired.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I0R7IcIKS
That your back hurt not from your school bag—405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcN9EPfvtp
but from trying to carry their expectations.
You weren't seeking applause.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkMasbCPpT
Just affection.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj4c0uRLVV
Just someone to say,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaScLVYOnRk
"I see how hard you're trying."
But love didn't come as a reward.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkkEM7aEKp
And your effort, while outstanding, was treated as default.
So, listen to me now:
Your worth is not a grade.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3H5tbhL7r
Your value is not measured by medals.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SYQNHm9IK
And your heart?405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOJWjZ7TR8
Deserved more than performance-based affection.
You were brilliant—405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2gcCjNnZm
not just in school,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jod2MkbuL
but in how you kept trying405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5EZiCRtJX
despite the silence,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4ILaqaO6D
despite the emotional drought.
You didn't fail them.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U9uEghA7e
They failed to see you.
But I do.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjEwKyDy40
I see that little girl.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaTYtCzAOa
And I am so proud of her.
Not because she was perfect—405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NEXeMerbz
but because she was persistent, kind,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q4w6nR5XU
and brave enough to keep hoping.
You are not a disappointment.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfx1acLVyF
Never were.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MiXoO985M
Never will be.
Love,405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJev28UaNd
The You who finally stopped asking for permission to feel enough
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTeunEf6ga
and then Add to home screen.