Here are some of my favorite recent photos of me! I love it when pictures like these show my genuine happiness, like how you can see my smile isn't fake. It actually captures the essence of that moment. Through photos like these people can already interpret and see what type of person you are, what your vibes are, and assume your personality.

It’s 2025, and I’m 17. A Grade 11 STEM Pre-Sci student in Ateneo de Davao, halfway between burnout and brilliance, living in a boarding house with a head full of dreams and a heart trying to stay soft despite everything.

Right now, I’m learning so many things—not just from books or research, but from life.

I’m learning how to carry myself. How to be alone but not lonely. How to say no without guilt and how to say yes without fear. I’m learning that some people come back into your life when you least expect it—and maybe, just maybe, it’s not a coincidence. (You know who I’m talking about.) I’m learning that I don’t need to shrink to be loved, and that my emotions—even the ugly, messy, bruised ones—still deserve to be seen.

School’s tough. STEM be STEMing. Deadlines are everywhere, my skin breaks out when I’m stressed, and sometimes I forget to drink water because I’m too busy overthinking. But I’m also learning discipline—not the harsh kind, but the self-respecting kind. I’m finding comfort in routines, and I’m slowly building a version of myself who doesn’t abandon herself when things get hard. Who still shows up, even if she’s limping.

Emotionally, I’ve been healing in ways I didn’t know I needed. I’m becoming more aware of what makes me me—my intuitiveness, my empathy, my ability to read people, to care deeply and notice what others miss. I’m proud of that. I’m no longer hiding my depth just to be “easier” to understand.

But I’m also still scared. Scared of failure. Scared that I won’t be enough. Scared that I’ll never fully know if I’m on the right path. And I guess that’s what I want to tell you, future me—don’t forget how hard you fought to become who you are now. Don’t belittle the battles just because you outgrew the battlefield.

I hope that by the time you’re reading this, you’re still someone who’s curious. I hope you’re still asking big questions, still unlearning and relearning. I hope you’re in a place where your passions aren’t just dreams anymore, but something real and alive. I hope you’re surrounded by people who speak your name with kindness and who match your effort. And if you’re not, I hope you have the strength to walk away.

I hope you haven’t forgotten the girl who used to dance alone in her room to feel free. Who wiped her own tears at night but still showed up for everyone the next day. Who carried her younger self on her back and kept going. She is you. She made you.

Don’t ever be embarrassed of how far you’ve come, even if your pace was slow. Progress is still progress. Healing is still healing.

And hey, if you’re ever doubting yourself again—reread this, and remember: you are not behind, you are becoming. One version of you dreamed of the life you’re living now.

Take care of that girl. She deserves everything.

Love,

Ameera (17, but wise as hell 😌)

P.S. If Gab’s still around, tell him thanks for helping you believe in magic again. If he’s not, that’s okay too. You learned love, softness, and timing, and that’s enough <333

It honestly makes me sad how this subject is coming to an end. But overall I personally think that personal development has honestly been one of the most meaningful subjects I have taken. It is not just about pushing through challenges but about understanding ourselves, why we think and act the way we do, and how we can grow from that awareness. I really wish I had been more vocal during discussions and shared more of my thoughts and reflections because I know I could have learned even more from engaging with the class. Still, I deeply appreciate Sir Weng’s patience and the time he dedicated to us. His guidance made this subject more than just lessons. It became a space to reflect, to question, and to really connect with my own journey. This class has helped me see parts of myself I did not fully understand before, and I am grateful for that.