Grattitude.

Grateful. Appreciative. Awestruck. Astounded. All words to describe this year, and those responsible for making it what it was. I first want to just take the time to thank all of you, you know who you are, for the influence you have had on me this year! You all have changed me for the better, and I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for all of you. I have seen some of my darkest days, and been through the moments that I just want to cry and crawl into the nearest dark, deep, pit and stay there, but you didn't let me. All of you I call my friends, are angels! I never would have made it through this year without the help of you saints! The song, "I get by with a little help from my friends" comes to mind. I had honestly thought about dropping out in several instances over this year, because I thought that I didn't mean anything to anyone, and that all I was was someone to fill a bed, or take up a desk, etc, and just when I was contemplating quitting, and just giving up and going home doomed to forever be the failure that I saw myself as. Someone came into my life, or came back into my life, just when I needed them the most, and made me feel important, and like I had some value in society! I have always had low self worth. I've always been the chubby kid that the bullies went after in elementary, the kid that wasn't strong enough to stick up for himself, the fat kid that seemed to be caught in the wrong place, at the wrong time, or the kid that no one wanted to play with because I wasn't one of blessed individuals that got all the looks, or the smarts or anything that seemed to matter. For all of you out there that have been in my shoes, or are going to be trying them on sometime in the near future. NO matter what anyone says to you, or about you, or behind your back, all I can say is that revenge is sweet! Karma is a witch, and they will get theirs! Maybe not now, or anytime soon. But you wait long enough and all the wrongs will be done right! Justice will be served, and they will be on the receiving end of swift justice! Once you hit a certain age, or a certain point in your schooling career. None of those trivial worldy cares will mean anything to anyone. I have made friends this year that if I knew them in high school, I NEVER would have talked to, but now some of them are my best friends, and I couldn't be more grateful! I guess the meaning I'm trying to purvey is that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, rather by the contents therein. Get to know people before you judge them. You never know who you are going to miss out on knowing! Be grateful! Appreciate everything. Everything happens for a reason, and YOU are AWESOME!! (: Love, Tyler Anderson Smuin