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USA250 Journal Project
Personal Chronicle: July 4, 2025 – July 5, 2026
A gift for reflection. A record of now. A story for what’s next.
💎 Who Am I?
I’m the girl who makes everything look easy.
The one who knows where the extra bobby pins are, who double-checks the group text, who signs the card and pretends it’s from everyone.I’m the “good daughter.” The one who gets ready early and smiles politely through donor dinners and church fundraisers and school board galas.
But lately I wonder—am I just really good at disappearing into what other people need?
What if I don’t want to be the person who smooths over every wrinkle, who swallows her own chaos so no one else feels uncomfortable?
I don’t know who I am without the role. Without the calendar. Without the performance.
But I’m starting to feel like that’s not strength. It’s a kind of hiding.
💎 How did I get here?
I was raised in a house where everything matched—even the emotions. Kindness with control. Generosity with reputation. Love with rules.
I met Maddie in sixth grade. She was the only one who didn’t seem like she was auditioning for something. I liked her because she let me talk without performing. And then we both got really, really good at performing.
High school was a parade of checklists: AP credits, fundraisers, team photos, “most likely” nominations. I always knew where the line was—and how to stay one inch inside it.
And then Maddie slipped. And I froze. Not because I didn’t love her. But because I didn’t know how to love someone without fixing them. I panicked. I tried to manage it.
How did I get here? By doing everything right. By never letting go. And now, I don’t know how to hold anything real.
Friends
Madison Whitmore – Best friend.
Ethan Hayes – Friend.
