Back in junior high, I was always the quiet one—the one who followed the flow, never wanting to disturb the current. I remember standing in front of the classroom, pretending I didn’t care when someone else got the praise I secretly wanted. I told myself it didn’t matter. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t being true to myself.

If I could write one short piece of advice to that version of me—the past me—I would say:

"Stay dedicated. Be stronger. Choose what you want to choose. And be you."

There were times when I felt torn between two worlds—even when I chose dance instead of academics, I doubted myself. I thought maybe I was making the wrong choice, that maybe people would think I wasn’t smart or serious enough. But I kept going, because something in me knew that my passion mattered too.

To my younger self, I want to say: It’s okay. Even if the world tells you to take the “safe” path, you are allowed to follow what makes you feel alive. Choosing dance didn’t make you weaker—it made you courageous. You followed what your heart whispered, not what others shouted.

So, stay stronger. There will be days when your choice feels heavy, when people question it—but hold on. Stand tall. Choose what you want to choose, not what others expect. Most of all, be you. That’s your real power.

This advice matters to me now more than ever—because I’ve learned that success isn’t just about grades or trophies. It’s about being true to yourself, even when it’s hard.

—Louie