Redemption

  We've all been there. We've all had that infamous feeling. We've all had those days when we feel terrible about ourselves. We've all felt as though there were nothing and no one there to help us feel better. We've all been there, so this is my challenge to anyone who has ever felt like they weren't good enough: Redemption Writers.
    First off, this is not my original idea. All credit goes to my fellow intern and best friend, Taylor Young (read her bio here). A few months ago, she, along with our Dream On Youth founder, Cydney, came up with this idea of Redemption Writers, but due to undesired circumstances, the plan was never able to be put into action. That's why I'm here. As head of the writing department, Taylor told me about this idea and I was more than happy to help make it into a reality.
    So what exactly is Redemption Writers? This is an opportunity for you to write about anything and everything you may be struggling within your life. You may have gotten a bad grade on a test. You may be buried under loads of stress from school or work. You may be facing a mean girl (or boy) who won't leave you alone. You may be suffering from depression. Whatever it is, I have a solution for you. Your challenge: Find a nice notebook (they're only a few dollars at Target) and for at least fifteen minutes a day, write. Just write. Write about anything that pops into your pretty little mind. It doesn't matter if what you scribble down makes no sense; all that matters is that you're letting all of those emotions out. What comes out of this challenge may surprise you. You may be on the verge of a beautiful poem or a witty short story. Most importantly, this allows you to see how you are capable of changing yourself for the better; your thoughts change and your feelings change. 
    I've learned that bottling up your emotions is never a good thing. Everyone needs an outlet of some sort and in the beginning, it's about figuring out what that outlet is. Who knows? By documenting what goes on in your life and how you feel about what happened, you may find a hidden passion. 
    "Ultimately, it shows a road of redemption. Either at a slow pace or a fast pace or a barely noticeable change. But if it's documented, it's all worth it. And you can see the change and process within yourself." - Taylor Young
    So take the challenge. I want you to feel amazing about yourself because that is exactly what you are: amazing. Everyone deserves to feel good about themselves. It may take days, weeks, months, years ... However long the quest, the end result is so worth it.
    "To share our stories is not only a worthwhile endeavor for the storyteller but for those who hear our stories and feel less alone because of it." - Joyce Maynard

Stay beautiful,
Andrea Santoyo