This last year of 2019 has had many different turns. I have met many new friends, joined an Autism group here in Wisconsin, and even redecorated my room! There have also been many struggles as well, as I’ve lost contact with some friends, and had to take a break for a while because of my mental health. However not all of these changes have been bad.

I am still working on accepting the fact that certain people in my life are better left in the past and that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting them entirely. Throughout this past year I have had a number of times when I wanted to just give up but I’m proud to say that I kept fighting. 2020 is a year to put the past behind me and accomplish new goals! I am currently looking for a job so that I can be able to buy things on my own, and I’m planning on looking at colleges this summer to take the next step toward independence.

Someof my New Year’s resolutions for the new year are to publish a poem from my collection, work out at the gym, eat healthier, get a job, and to donate a therapy doll to a good organization. I’m working hard to accomplish all of my goals. To symbolize 2019 being over, I made a time capsule of things from this past year.

It included a letter to my future self, a picture of myself, and some small objects like dolls and jewelry that are special to me. It’ll be fun to open it in five years and see how much I’ve grown since then! I even uploaded the video to my YouTube channel so that other people can share the experience with me.

This past year has had a lot of setbacks but with that came a lot of amazing new opportunities. I met three awesome friends, who I have a lot in common with. I went on my first trip to Utah for a doll show, and most importantly I’m still learning that I don’t need others’ approval to make me happy! I went into 2019 unsure of what the future would hold and I emerged strong and hopeful! I’m learning to not see things as setbacks but instead as learning opportunities. A lot has happened this past year and I wouldn’t change it for a thing!