Dear 2000's,
I came into this decade as a 12 year old, somewhat naive, a 7th grader at Marine Park Junior High School, thinking that I would never escape the constant torture of being bullied. Now, I am leaving as a 22 year old senior at Brooklyn College, experienced more life than I would have ever thought that I would back in the 7th grade, and hoping that things can only get better from here. A lot can happen in ten years, and boy did things ever happen for me.
Some of the good things that you have given me: I met amazing people that I am proud to consider my friends; I have come across amazing teachers and professors that have taught me things outside of the classroom; I went to my first concert; had my first kiss; first boyfriend; got to do wonderful shows/musicals in high school and college; exploring my passions; discovering music that changed my life; always learning something new in and out of school.
Amongst all of this wonderful stuff, you have dealt me a lot of challenges that I have had to deal with head on. First with my grandfather's death in 2007. Thank god I had a show to do that week, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get through it. Then, my thyroid fucked up on me, or, should I say, it's been fucked up my whole life, but I didn't see any symptoms of it until I was 20. Having autoimmune problems suck. Big time.
I also have been used by men that shouldn't be in my life. But on the flip side, I have met men that have shown me that not all guys are scum. Thank you for showing me that, and you know who you are.
Then my father's death last year. I still haven't gotten over it completely, and it's because I'm in the place where he worked and where I found out that he died. It is time for me to really start healing my wounds, and the only way I can do this is to leave Brooklyn College as soon as I get my Bachelor's degree in hand. It will be the only way for me to really move on. Therapy helps immensely, but I need a change of scenery to make it easier for me to deal with. A week or so ago, I found out that my other grandfather has cancer of the esophagus. He will find out if it was caught in time in a couple of weeks. I pray that it's Stage I, not Stage IV, and I pray that he will survive this, not succumb to it. Not only did you take away people from my family, you took people away from my friend's families, too. And it hurt me to see them go through the pain that I know of all too well.
In short: Thank you for sending me the most amazing friends anyone could ever ask for, and fuck you for taking away the people that I love before their time. Goodbye, 2000's. I hope that the 2010's will give me, and all of my friends and family, peace, clarity, love, happiness and light. It can only get better from here. I know it.
Respectfully yours,
Allyson
© Allyson Yates, 2009/2010
