When I looked in the mirror in the morning, I realized that I hadn’t been able to establish a real connection with the person I saw for a long time. The days passed between school, expectations, and the boundaries that others drew for me. When someone asked what I wanted, I chose to stay silent instead of answering. It was safe to be silent, but it left a void inside me.
One day, I took my notebook and went to the park. Without a phone, without music — I just wanted to be with myself. At first, I was very bored. My thoughts were scattered, and I kept thinking about other people’s words. Then I started writing: my fears, my anger, and my dreams. As I wrote, my voice became clearer. I noticed the difference between the person others expected me to be and the person I wanted to be.
Discovering myself wasn’t something that happened instantly. I took small steps forward. I learned to say “no” to things I didn’t like and to stand up for the things I did like. I realized that not being afraid of making mistakes is important, and that success is not just a result but also effort. Most importantly, I learned to be more patient with myself.
On my way home in the evening, I had a slight smile on my face. I hadn’t solved everything, but now I was on the right path. The sentence that crossed my mind at that moment was very clear: “I’m proud of myself today.” For the first time, I had spent a day being just myself, without trying to be someone else. This journey is not over, but now I know where I’m going.