• a burden: there’s a bucket of reasons why you should not feel like one. perhaps you’re overthinking, worried, or feeling down. but don’t ever feel like you’re being such a burden. you are part of the population. you are important. without you, this world would lose the opportunity to be changed in your own simple ways. you are necessary. you are loved and it’s okay to be your own priority.
• a disappointment: you’re not! i’m proud of wherever you are right now. im proud of your progress; no matter how enormous or minute it might be. if you failed your test, it’s okay. if you didn’t win the competition, it’s alright. im pretty sure you did your best and it’s that part that will always matter. don’t let other people’s “what a shame” bring you down. YOU. ARE. NOT. A. SHAME. you are blooming in your own simple ways. and I am proud and happy for you. continue growing, aspiring, believing in yourself. i’m proud of you.
• a weirdo: most definitely never a weirdo! if you like doing things that are quite different, that does not make you a weirdo. that makes you special and even more precious. it was such a perfect combination of atoms and dna that led to a beautiful creature that is you and oh dear god, you’re amazing. your way of thinking is creative and the way you do things is totally out of this world. you are beyond the things earthly. you are meant for greater things. and you are most definitely not a weirdo.
• ugly: whoever said you were, should most definitely need to get their eyes checked. when was the last time they went to the eye doctor anyway? if there’s anything that i’d like to be, it is to be as beautiful and as bright as you, a total human version of sunshine. your eyes light up like a ray of sunlight, your lips are perfectly carved like cherries, and your noise is huge or small and it’s cute. most definitely cute like a button. and the world should be in awe every time you wake up.
• not good enough: you are good enough. you should feel good enough. if somebody’s making you feel like you’re not, then that only means he does not deserve you, the brightest star light in the universe. you deserve to feel loved. your strength and your smiles make this world a better place. you are good enough: always have been, forever will be.
• alone: i’m here for you, your dogs are there for you. your cats are waiting for you. your pets will always be at your back, giving sweet and soft head bumps to make you feel loved. your music playlist is there for you to blast when you’re feeling a tinsy bit down. you are never ever alone. we’re constantly caring, loving, and waiting for you. please stop frowning and crying, you are loved.
• stupid: you are, as a matter of fact, really really intelligent and even smart! perhaps you’re having difficulty in understanding your math or chemistry lessons, but that’s part of the process! at least you’re learning. i’m pretty sure some people will not be able to understand it just like you. but that doesn’t equal to being stupid. you’re just learning. continue to crave for knowledge and continue to make your curiosity work. you are not stupid.
• annoying: you are never annoying! just keep on talking if you feel like sharing the entire story of your life. if you want to hit me up, that’s perfectly fine too. you haven’t even said anything to make me feel uncomfortable. people would love to hear you out, to befriend you, to be part of your social bubble. no you’re not being extra annoying, friendliness does not equal to being annoying. honestly, just keep on doing you. if that’s what makes you feel happy, then you’re doing fine.

• Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34.
• Stanley Almodovar III, 23.
• Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20.
• Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22.
• Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36.
• Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22.
• Luis S. Vielma, 22.
• Kimberly Morris, 37.
• Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30.
• Darryl Roman Burt II, 29.
• Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32.
• Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21.
• Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25.
• Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35.
• Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50.
• Amanda Alvear, 25.
• Martin Benitez Torres, 33.
• Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37.
• Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26.
• Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35.
• Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25.
• Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31.
• Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26.
• Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old.
• Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old.
• Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old.
• Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
• Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
• Cory James Connell, 21 years old
• Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
• Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
• Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
• Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
• Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
• Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
• Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
• Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
• Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
• Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
• Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
• Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24
• Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
• Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
• Frank Hernandez, 27
• Paul Terrell Henry, 41

It’s okay to be where I am, I don’t have to wake up tomorrow and be a pro. I used to really be very hard on myself if I thought I wasn’t accomplishing something or reaching a certain level. But be with your failures. They’re just as educational and just as opening to the process as the successes.