Hey, Girl! (Also Known As: The Growth Story of a Girl Who Cried, Laughed, Went Crazy, and Made a Scene)

I don't need a deliberately chaotic life or emotions that are troubled for their own sake. I trust my own judgment and don't blindly follow others. I don't insist on being the same as everyone else. I value what makes me different. I know who I should be and who I can be. I know I'm not mature enough yet. I'll stumble and feel pain, but I won't grow numb. I open my arms to embrace warmth, and to give it in return. The world has its faults. I won't rage against them. I'll put my energy into things that matter more. I have a long road ahead. Of course it will be hard, but I'll keep moving forward. I am no one's flower. I will be a great tree, with lush branches and roots a thousand feet deep. The years leave their rings behind. I am glad to see the marks of my growth. I will be a great tree, someone others can lean on and find shade beneath. Time nourishes me. I am connected to nature, growing openly and honestly. I will be a great tree, bearing flowers and fruit. Either way, I will be beautiful. (Partially quoted) Who says post-90s kids can only pout, act cute, and cry? Who hasn't had a foolish, awkward youth? But little girls grow up, too. Otherwise, where did this sometimes cool and elegant, sometimes cute and sweet, independent, thoughtful me with my own principles come from? I'm a post-90s kid, and I'm my own spokesperson. Oh yeah! No life guru handed me a secret to success that made everything go smoothly from then on. No cheat codes, no amnesia-causing car accident, none of those three unfixable K-drama tropes. Just the real little things I've experienced in life, which have shaped me into who I am through all the ups and downs. There has been laughter and tears along the way, effort and joy, as well as disappointment. Along the way, I learned to cherish family, came to understand the value of friendship, and started learning how to find a beautiful love. To my three best girlfriends, with love. You are the greatest treasures in my life. Timeline: From kindergarten to after graduating from university (The story starts out lightly and gradually gets more detailed)