Dear Little Overachiever,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrUBUHX5xe
#TheOriginOfTheHurt
You thought if you brought home high grades,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05GNWPhmGO
they would finally say, "We're proud of you."
You chased medals,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKJzVkwodU
starred papers,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡia2N8HcoZY
top honors—379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwmFEpGEEJ
as if love could be earned through certificates.
You memorized lessons not just to pass,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGz8J24A5p
but to matter.
You smiled on recognition days,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4gzk3OQej
searching the crowd for faces that never fully lit up for you.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1htm7r90c
Or worse, weren't even there.
When you failed—once or twice,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBGy2pDgrI
you weren't asked how you were coping,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaq79fL10r
but why you didn't do better.
You learned that excellence was expected—379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPxka2lJht
not celebrated.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwTlGZqfVe
That your worth depended on how useful, smart, or impressive you could be.
But no one noticed you were tired.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHsJlCqj7f
That your back hurt not from your school bag—379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOC5Nloaaq
but from trying to carry their expectations.
You weren't seeking applause.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiqmfNsuKO
Just affection.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg4mSIo9wu
Just someone to say,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc7uvBOtKy
"I see how hard you're trying."
But love didn't come as a reward.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSZF4IANC9
And your effort, while outstanding, was treated as default.
So, listen to me now:
Your worth is not a grade.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcyAhU1Wji
Your value is not measured by medals.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pifN16LRw
And your heart?379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJSZESeb5m
Deserved more than performance-based affection.
You were brilliant—379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMuRsPNOXd
not just in school,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIUsdG7aUF
but in how you kept trying379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcuzePrBRk
despite the silence,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOevpXZMz1
despite the emotional drought.
You didn't fail them.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhi9IUgY9O
They failed to see you.
But I do.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVva3Cz7km
I see that little girl.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfIIuX83XO
And I am so proud of her.
Not because she was perfect—379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rgFle9wMo
but because she was persistent, kind,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwpR0iD7N2
and brave enough to keep hoping.
You are not a disappointment.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN12RJKHkn
Never were.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjJjUX22uy
Never will be.
Love,379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsmSgxkucN
The You who finally stopped asking for permission to feel enough
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQNuDNbsyB
and then Add to home screen.