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By Annya Apodaca The stages of a plant are similar to our journey of personal growth

Think of a house plant—your favorite and dearest green friend that sits by your window. You know three things about this plant, it’s green, needs water, and needs sun. Now, what happens if your plant is not getting enough sunlight or water? It will stop growing and deteriorate. In order to maintain your plant in a healthy state, it needs to be cared for and given enough sunshine and water. Then, your plant will grow tall and strong! People need sunlight and water too. Not only literal H2O and Vitamin D but affection and support to grow as well. You undergo many changes that ultimately affect your wellbeing during your formative years. Just as a plant, you go through many stages of life, from managing a heavy homework schedule to experimenting with a new wardrobe. It is important that as you experience change, you feel supported by the people around you. For example, being a part of a friend group where you can be your most authentic self allows you to grow to your fullest potential. Lifting each other up, and encouraging each other to tackle whatever challenges life throws at you, are critical factors of good friendships. By being surrounded by a good solid group of friends, you are given the resources to grow and develop as a person, just as the plant grows.

Going back to your plant, you may notice that not all plants grow in the same way, or in the same environment. Some can grow in a bedroom, and others need to be in your backyard at all times. As a teenage girl, you will realize that you thrive in an environment where you feel safe and confident to be yourself. This may be different from your friends, and that’s fine! Your friend may thrive in sports, and you thrive in art class, but the important thing is that everyone ends up where they are supposed to be, doing what makes them happy and fulfilled. Your plant in your bedroom grows beautifully, and the plant in your backyard. Together, they make up a beautiful green scenery, just as you and your friends all contribute to making the world a better place with your different talents and abilities.

Sometimes, you may notice that your plant is taking some time to grow, or some leaves are falling. That is normal! You as well, will go through some tough times where you need to remember that everything happens for a reason. It is essential that when you go through a tough time, you are supported by people around you and feel loved. Sometimes you will feel like you are a failure because you earned a bad score on a test, or that you are a bad sister because you lashed out at your younger brother or sister. You will have many feelings and through the years you will learn to adapt and recognize what you are feeling. You will make mistakes and you will fall, but all that makes you a human, and helps you become stronger every day. Hard times will come, but good days will follow as well! Before you know it, your plant has overcome its growth stunt and is now looking greener than ever, and you have also overcome a tough time and are now stronger and wiser too! 23