You said that you would write a book someday... Well, it happened. It was hard--working and waiting years for this--but it happened. It may not have been the novel that you've worked on during high school, but I promise you that I'm onto something with the Dolphin Princess series. I wasn't happy with the plot and the characters in the novel that you've slaved over, but I was able to keep some of the ideas in Dolphin Princess.
I want to let you know that I haven't forgotten about you, Veronica. I haven't forgotten the lonely times in the library pouring blood, sweat, and tears into a novel that was only practice for my published creation. I haven't forgotten the times when people would look at you like you were nothing--like you weren't going to grow up and be somebody someday.
How's life as a 25-year-old, you ask? Hard. It's hard when you work jobs you don't like. It's hard when you can't find a job that'll make you happy. It's hard when you're not able to stay at a job you like, because it's work-study (limited to students). It's hard just being where I am now--living paycheck to paycheck, trying to sell a book (pretty soon, two) that I've worked on for a few year, and bearing the label "starving artist" every day. I never wanted things to be this hard; all I wanted to do was follow my passion, but it's hard to.
At 17, you may have thought you had your life figured out, but I really hate to tell you that the world isn't what you thought it would be. Instead of working at an office-type environment and having a steady income, you'll be living paycheck to paycheck as an online tutor. Instead of being happy all the time, you'll experience depression every once in a while (a depression way worse than what you had during high school); and you'll find yourself very frustrated every once in a while too. I'm sorry to say all that, but it's true.
But at 17, I think you still have time to change your mind about what you want to do in life. If opportunities come your way, don't be afraid to learn more about them. Don't turn opportunities away; some of them might be useful to you. I understand that 17, you're still very shy; but when you get to college, that'll change.
And also, don't be afraid to ask for help. If nobody listens to you, go to someone who will, or keep saying/expressing it over and over, until they finally listen.
But please.... please, please, please... don't do anything stupid.
I remember that day in high school when you spent half a school-day crying and wanting to die. What happened? Some kid thought you were stupid and didn't know better--that you having a voice was dumb. After the teacher excused you from class, another teacher found you in the girls' restroom and thought you were skipping class. After pleading your innocence, you get taken to the front office, where you sit there, only to be a display for others going in and out of the office. I know you were broken that day. But I'm sorry to say that that feeling has haunted me again and again, when I just wanted to end it all, because nothing was working out for me.
But I can tell you that God put on this earth for a reason. There has to be a reason. If there was no reason, then I wouldn't be sitting at this computer writing to you. All I can tell you is to just hang in there. Graduate. Go to college. And don't be afraid to try new things.
Stay strong.
-Veronica, 25 (3/25/2019)
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Veronica Gonzalez
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