I was fortunate to have an alternate universe at school, where I had wonderful friends and did perfectly well in my classes without working all that hard. I lived for having fun and spending time with my friends, who made me feel accepted and connected, unlike at home, where everyone was so distant and cold. We collided in our day-to-day lives, but we didn’t actually connect at all. I was hungry for authentic relationships, and I found them with my friends:
