Then vs Now
- Aaron Tolete
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
I used to believe that the person I was during my senior year of high school would stay mostly the same throughout my life. I thought my personality, my habits, and even the way I saw the world would remain consistent. But since then, life has shown me otherwise in the most natural way. Between then and now, I have met so many different people who have influenced how I think, how I communicate, and how I understand myself. I have also had experiences that involved traveling and stepping into unfamiliar environments, which forced me to grow in ways I did not expect. One of the biggest changes for me has been learning how to be alone, how to enjoy my own company, and how to truly love myself without needing constant validation from others.
During my senior year, I slowly drifted away from most of the friends I grew up with. Since then, I have completely cut ties with everyone from my hometown and instead built new relationships with people who share better mindsets and higher ambitions. Interestingly, my core goals and aspirations have not changed much at all. I have known what I wanted to do for most of my life, so that part of me stayed consistent. What changed was how I interact with people. I have become more observant, more understanding, and much better at reading the intentions and energy of others.
This ability has made me more selective with my time and relationships. College life also introduced me to new social environments like parties and different group dynamics, which helped me realize what aligns with me and what does not. Overall, I see myself now as someone more emotionally intelligent, more mature, and fully aware of my surroundings and the people in them. I do not think I am finished changing, but I am finally comfortable with who I am becoming and that matters now
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