Dear Jeongmin,
     We had our first deep, personal conversation tonight. During that, I confessed that a lot of those that I allowed myself to be surrounded by did nothing but bring me down and make me feel like I had to compete to be acceptable. Your reaction shocked me, as you almost immediately denounced them and told me I should abandon them. Somehow, I felt the need to defend them, but you wouldn’t allow it. You told me that I deserved better, I deserved friends that cared about me and didn’t make me feel badly about myself. 
     Your defensiveness was almost endearing, but I decided to take your words to heart and I’m going to put distance between them and myself. It feels great, to end the year with a hope that I haven’t felt in years. You have yet to lead me astray, and hopefully that trend will continue. So, here goes nothing.

Sincerely, 
Hyunseong