Dear everyone,

I wrote you this letter to express my feelings and to tell you about my experiences as an
adolescent. First, when I was ten years old, I experienced my first puberty symptoms, including acne for
the first time. Later, I had my first period, or menstrual cycle, which caused me to believe that I was
bleeding to death, because no one had told me that this was common for females going through
adolescence. Although these puberty symptoms did not totally affect me, I simply accepted the thought
that they are normal as a person grows older, but there were problems and struggles in growing up that
did. One of the difficulties of puberty was dealing with feelings I had never experienced as a child. I used
to be a really happy person, but as I grew older, everything in me changed, including my moods and
emotions. I've found that I've gotten more sensitive to what other people think of me, which has caused
me to develop social anxiety. Furthermore, I suffered from depression because I didn't feel like myself
when I was anxious. I started talking to my friends and family members about my mental health issues. I
believed that was the only way to deal with it, but I discovered that getting out more and doing hobbies I
hadn't done in a long time, such as travelling to new areas, strolling with a companion dog, or playing
instruments, helped. Some individuals, which I am grateful for, believe that the challenges I had as I went
through adolescence were typical, while others assumed that the problems I had were little and that I
would be able to overcome them quickly. I wrote this as a warning to everyone around me, especially
those going through puberty and experiencing the same issues I had. Many people, including myself, wish
they could stay as children and not have to deal with problems. It's not a negative thing to adapt as if
you're a completely different person because becoming an adult is only the beginning of life. The greatest
approach to overcome these issues is to simply be yourself, regardless of whether you have changed. I'm
incredibly excited to write about my adolescence because it will help people understand and recognise
that someone going through the same adolescent experience as me shouldn't be judged right away, but
should instead be helped.

Sincerely,
Aarael Mae Ramos