Zoey
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25I was born in 2005, right as the world was trading flip phones for glass screens. My early years were a blur of Tamagotchis and the smell of new notebooks—I was that kid who actually liked school. I was 'the smart one,' the teacher’s pet who thought a B+ was a personal tragedy.
By the time I hit middle school, life started feeling like a performance. I spent way too much time on Instagram trying to look like I wasn't trying. I’d spend hours curating the 'perfectly messy' bedroom aesthetic, only to realize I was just staring at a screen while my real life stayed messy.
High school was… a lot. I was part of that 'permanently busy' generation. Between AP classes and the pressure of the College Board exams, I felt like I was running a race with no finish line. Then 2020 happened. The world stopped, and suddenly my 'busy' life was just me, a laptop, and a lot of anxiety. It was the first time I had to ask myself who I was when I wasn't 'Zoey the Student.'
I’m in my 20s now. I’ve realized that being 'outspoken and optimistic' doesn’t mean you’re never scared; it just means you’re willing to talk through the mess. I’m learning to trade the 'perfect' life for a real one—one where I actually enjoy the coffee instead of just taking a photo of it. I’m working hard, making mistakes, and finally figuring out that my worth isn’t tied to a GPA
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