Thread by @cameron_kasky

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Welp, today’s the day.

I’m sitting on an airplane, getting ready to move up to New York City and never call Florida my home again. But I won’t miss Florida. Home is where I am when I’m with my family.

Geography has nothing to do with it. I’m pretty sure that was the entire theme of Thor: Ragnarok.

I am starting one of the most transformative new chapters of my life, and times like these are great for looking back. And let me tell you- I am the luckiest guy in the world.

I’ve been lucky enough to have my character formed by watching people who have lost everything show their strength and strive for more. I’ve been lucky enough to make some of the dumbest mistakes a human being could possibly make.

Most importantly, I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of the most wonderful human beings on the planet. I couldn’t ask for a better family. Actually, I did, and then my parents got divorced and I got TWO great families. Jackpot as fuck.

Another reason I feel so lucky is that I have been able to overcome some great obstacles in my life that... well... I created for myself. And that’s fine. I’ve felt so helpless, so lost, so alone. I’ve had times where the future felt not like an opportunity, but like a chore.

Like life was something I had to do, not something I’m lucky enough to be able to continue. I am so lucky that through medicine and therapy and openness and love and community and so many amazing things, I’m able to stand here today and make something of myself.

I’m not quite sure who I want to become or how I want to get there, but for all of you who have felt like they are too different, too weird, too... “much...” Please know: I have gotten a lot of shit in my life for being me.

And it makes sense- I am, without a doubt, one of the most complicated and frustrating people I have ever met.

I constantly fuck up, piss people off, and piss myself off. This is all very true. But the thing that has kept me going my entire life, as one of the people I love most in this world has told me, is that I have always been UNAPOLOGETICALLY me.

And that’s not to say I think I am perfect and must be set in my ways. Well, I used to, but now I know I’m anything but.

That being said, being true to myself is what has brought me where I am. I am flagrantly “showy” in my communication.

I am sarcastic to a point where you have to know me very well to understand half the dumb shit I say is a joke. I get loud. All the time. Horrible volume control. Also, I have strong and controversial political opinions that frustrate people in and out of my political party.

But, even when I’ve felt like all is lost and I have ruined my life or my circumstances are inescapable or everything around me has fallen apart, I have been able to wake up in the morning and know that I am me. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

And hey—- that’s not always enough- I have to be a good “me.” A “me” who earns my keep and makes the world a better place. And it’s my job to do that, no matter how often it seems like I’m incapable of being who I should be.

Be open to change, but never forget who you are. Love yourself and love your voice, your expression, your face, your heart... we all have room to improve. But no matter what happens in this batshit fucking crazy ass world, you will always be you.

You’re stuck with you for your entire life Be the you that is real. The world doesn’t get to determine what makes you beautiful. Your parents don’t. Your friends don’t. It’s you- and you are fucking beautiful. As a matter of fact, hit me up.

Thank you all for supporting me. Thanks for those of you who care, those of you who disagree with me respectfully, those of you who are fucking morons...

Thanks for caring about Parkland. Let’s go care about the whole world together and change it for the better.

I got my friends together and started a gun control movement that swept the entire nation in the bedroom where I used to cry about being incapable of anything.

And I’m an idiot.

Imagine what you smart folk can do.

PS- yes, I say “gun control.” I know a lot of people don’t like it because it seems “too intense,” but, like, guns are clearly not being controlled well right now and when things are out of control it’s probably smart to control them.