Dear Dad,

You always encouraged me to tell you whenever I got overwhelmed over something. But I rarely did. Just by bottling all my emotions inside, good or bad, my behavior started to change and you all noticed. I did little talking, and isolated myself from you and everybody else. Sitting in the corner of the living room writing in my journal, while you guys were watching movies.  I felt weird in my own home. I felt like a screw up, never doing or saying anything right. And I never thought otherwise. 

Then I started to act different at school. Not by much, though, still the same 13 year old girl. But I stopped asking questions, I slacked off, and I somewhat changed people’s opinions on me. I never wanted to be judged by people I barely knew, but that’s what was happening. I regret not telling you how I was feeling in the first place. At school I felt like the nerdy perfectionist and at home I felt like the big sister who couldn’t do anything right. It was all enough to make me cry in my room with the door locked.

But of course you never knew because I kept it to myself. I felt worthless and I didn’t want to be in this world anymore. I pushed myself more and more not allowing myself to breathe. I wanted to be the perfect daughter that you would ALWAYS be proud of. But that wasn’t happening. But here I am, trying as hard as I can. And I am still trying to be an awesome role model to my little sister. So don’t worry. This year is going to be a fresh start. I will be an eighth grader and I will make you proud.

Love,
Your Daughter, age 13