Found it sort of funny that I'm writing this new post only 2 days before my 27th birthday, and the last bday I mentioned was when I was 19th? lol Life has changed so drastically since then, and I can't really sum up this journey with a simple comment of it being a good or bad one. I'm no longer friends with quite a lot of people whom I cared deeply and thought would be staying with me for decades, but I've also met new people, although only a few worth keeping, who warm my heart when I'm devastatingly in need and support me through both thick and thin.  

People may think that I wasn't the same old self, that I wasn't as patient, considerate, and optimistic as I was in my teenage years, but that's life, and realistically speaking, we all change as we grow both mentally and physically, no matter such changes resemble signs of maturity or not. The very one thing I've learned is to love and care of myself. With that being said, the more I try to protect myself/prevent from getting hurt, the less I tend to compromise/sacrifice for others. Even my own mother had criticized me of being uncompassionate now comparing to the old times, but what could I say? Life in the States has trained me well to face arduous hardships, with only such characteristics left as a downside. What a bitter aftertaste, but that's also a part of growing up, right? ;)