Ashly Valenzuela

People have consistently told me that they don’t know how i’m still here, still in school, still going. The truth is, I’m not sure how I made it through the most of what’s happened to me, but the good news is, I would do anything to allow someone else to make it through something a bit easier because of my story. They say “no one’s as strong as you,” or “maybe you should take some time off of school.” I do it because there are people who look up to me, whether expressly or impliedly, and that, that right there is what keeps me going. To the girl who doesn't know if she has to have sex for this boy to like her or call her back. To the girl who lost the love of her life and doesn't know how to keep loving. To the girl who thinks it's cool to skip school and steal from Walmart just to fit in with some friends. To the girl who has parents who don't understand anything about her who constantly thinks about running away, who thinks suicide is the only way out and cries herself to sleep.