An Open Letter to the Boys Who Wouldn’t Give Me a Chance

To My Junior Prom Date:

Thank you for not giving me a chance. It was painful at first, but you taught me so many lessons. You taught me that a relationship couldn’t be built upon 3 hour-long conversations over Facebook. You taught me that a boy isn’t worth it if he isn’t willing to talk to you in person, or show you off to his friends. Thank you for teaching me that waiting over a year for the boy to come around is never a good Idea. Thank you for teaching me that I deserve someone who thinks that I am incredible the way I am and deserve someone who wants to spend time with me. I will never forget how happy I was when you would talk to me, but I will also always remember that you taught me a relationship needs more than a virtual conversation where you can hide behind a screen.

To The boy who kissed me on a warm May night and never spoke to me again:

Thank you for not giving me a chance. You taught me that it’s okay to leave my comfort zone, and to be wild and reckless. I never expected anything to come from that night, and now that I look back I’m okay with that. I needed to focus on leaving for school. Thank you for giving me a night of fun and rebellion, and then forgetting about me. You made it so I had no ties to my hometown, and I could go off to school and fully enjoy it.

To the boy I met on the first weekend of college:

Thank you for not giving me a chance. You taught me that boys are not everything. Thank you for choosing my best friend’s roommate over me.  You taught me that making friends and establishing strong friendships is the most important part of your first year at college.  I have the most amazing best friends in the world, and so many memories with them now. Thank you for showing me where me priorities should lie. Thank you for preventing me from becoming boy crazy in my first year of college. Thank you for not choosing me. My friendships are stronger because of it.

To the boy that would walk in and out of my life for 3 years:

Thank you for not giving me a chance. You taught me the most out of all the boys who never gave me a chance. You taught me that sometimes people just couldn’t stick around. You taught me that I should never come second to anyone. When you would walk out and not talk to me for months you made me feel like shit. You were really good at making me feel like the most special girl in the world, for a little while at least. Now, I see that you were just lonely and needed someone. Thank you for teaching me that I need to wait for someone who wants me for me, not because they are lonely. Thank you for teaching me that I should never be someone’s second choice when it comes to love. You taught me that above anything else I needed to respect and love myself enough to walk away from a toxic thing.

To the Man who loves me:

Thank you for GIVING me a chance. You make me the happiest I have ever been in my life. You have shown me why it didn’t work out with any of the aforementioned boys above. It was never supposed to work out with any of them, because it was always supposed to work out with you. You have loved me even though I don’t always feel like I should be loved. You think I am beautiful in anything, even yoga pants and a messy bun. You hold me tight when I am stressed, and just the sound of your voice can soothe me. You are there for me whenever I need you, and are always ready to hold me when I cry. You comfort me and always make sure that I know I am loved. You are constantly rooting me on, and are proud of me every time I get that ‘A’ I worked so hard for. You let me geek out and have never judged my love for Harry Potter, penguins, books, and pink. You let me yell at the TV even though the characters aren’t real and no one can hear me. You are playful, and think that my cackle is hilarious. You have taught me that I should never be insecure about myself. You push me to speak up for myself, and make decisions. You push me to stop caring about what others around me think and just do what makes me happy. You have helped me become a happier, more confident me. You support me in everything I do. I am grateful for you every day of my life. I am so glad that I met you, and I thank the universe everyday that you chose me. You taught me what love really looks like. I love you more than anyone could ever know. Thank you for being the most amazing person in the world, loving me unconditionally, and choosing me.