Dear Friend

By Lizbeth Fuentes Ascencio

Dear Lizbeth,

How are you? You probably don’t know but you’re a very big person now. Ha! These past years have been like a kick in the butt, but unfortunately I must deliver to you the news that you must face all those things to get to where you are now. Honestly, you didn’t do so well, but the many struggles and events you faced made you grow. You managed to get back up and start building a castle out of the bricks thrown at you. I just want you to know how proud I am of you. People say you’re too cold because you keep your distance, but in all honesty we know that you’ve learned to no longer let yourself be a fool or let yourself be stomped down. We’re too grown and too great for that.

Not to get too emotional in this letter, but as I’m writing this, we’re in the middle of becoming an adult. I’m glad you got to have special teenage memories that you’ll forever cherish, even though the storm was still going on. Your world must’ve been gray for the most part but it finally started sprouting colors when at fifteen you discovered BTS. I could see how the world lightened up within your eyes and grew to have a purpose—however, I must say you’re still in the process. The process to loving yourself never stops; it’s a continuous road that you must take until you’re satisfied with where you are.

BTS, however, wiped away your sadness and loneliness with their music and love. They’ve helped you come to the realization that we deserve better; loving ourselves comes with many challenges and tears, but that’s the beauty in it. You must love yourself for who you are and for how far you’ve come.

Don’t let things that hurt you, haunt you. Try and focus on what’s good in your life. Little by little, hurt fades and the void is filled with goodness. Just as BTS genuinely cares about their music’s impact and uses their platform to remind and send love to their fans, I encourage you to push forward a change in the world that really needs it. Just as the lyrics in “Love Myself” says:

Loving myself might be harder
Than loving someone else
Let’s admit it
The standards I made are more strict for myself
The thick tree rings in your life
It’s part of you, it’s you
Now let’s forgive ourselves
Our lives are long, trust yourself when in a maze
When winter passes, spring always comes.

“Answer: Love Myself” by BTS 

Therefore, look into the future. The grind ain’t over. You’re about to go to college and life will take you on another long roller coaster ride. Let’s keep going together—for a long time—into the future.