Page 3: "How cool would it be if differences were celebrated? And the more different you were, the better? Fitting in would be a totally foreign concept."
Page 7: "I want to help make the world a better place...Because if we're not improving the world in some way, then what's the point?" "Things will get better after this. They have to."
Page 12: "How could would it be if my class were a place where students could be themselves?...There wouldn't be all this stress and nervousness involved." "You never know when inspiration will strike."
Page 13: "If you see someone being bullied, make it stop. Why is that so hard for us to do?"
Page 20: "Julian's designs give you the impression that there are much better ways to live. His philosophy is that your home should be a unique reflection of your personality."
Page 22: "Every single day is an opportunity to improve your life."
Page 24: "School would be way more tolerable if everyone wasn't so afraid to be who they really are. And if everyone else would let them."
Page 37: "Seeing is not believing. What's in front of you is not necessarily the entire story."
Page 62: "And I mean, what, like I've never done anything stupid? We all do things we regret. my past is packed with things I wish I could take back. And there are lots of things I'm afraid of. Fear is understandable."
Page 63: "I love how he never seems to care what anyone thinks." "Trying to ignore a bully when you're bothered by what they're doing is completely different from not caring. They can tell you're trying really hard to ignore them when you care. They know they're getting to you, which makes them want to harass you even more."
Page 75: "I just don't want to rush into anything before I absolutely know for sure that I'm ready."
Page 76: "It's the road to freedom. It's the road to a better life, to a place where dreams have a chance to become reality."
Page 78: "Maybe she thinks that if she keeps saying she's okay, her emotions will believe her. Like how if you smile enough times you can trick your brain into thinking you're happy." "If I had a pet, I would be constantly worrying that something horrible was about to happen to him. I wouldn't be able to just enjoy the time we had together like a normal person."
Page 80: "Trying to make things look nice takes a lot of effort."
Page 82: "I don't Simon sees school the same way we do."
Page 86: "It's so weird how connecting with someone in a different setting can bring out this whole other side of them. Like how certain places inspire us to act in ways we normally wouldn't."
Page 89: "How could tons of styled food be there for anyone who could afford it, while people around the world were dying because they didn't even have clean water?"
Page 106: "My shows and books are an instant mood adjuster."
Page 112: "That's the thing about life. You can never trade yours in for a better one (you just have to make it better yourself)."
Page 120: "I wish emotional bruises healed like physical ones."
Page 121: "Making things happen behind the scenes of a publication,..., is kind of cool." "Even though his family is crazy wealthy, he's not conceited at all. He's one of the few kids around here who hasn't been brainwashed by excessive privilege."
Page 122: "It's the truth. Do yourself a favor and start believing it."
Page 123: "Everything will work out the way it's supposed to."
Page 134: "You can violate someone's trust and expect there to be no consequences."
Page 136: "...sometimes I think about how I'm seeing things differently from everyone else because I'm the only one looking at everything from my eyes. Every other person in this room is seeing a different configuration of the room. They're seeing me the way I can't. The more you think about perception like that, the weirder it gets." "...no two people can see the world in the same way. No matter what you're looking at, no one is seeing it the same way you are."
Page 141: "I guess there are somethings you just can't cover up. No matter how hard you try."
Page 142: "You can choose choose to be suffocated. Or you can find a way to keep breathing."
Page 149: "I can tell she's asking because she cares."
Page 150: "Worst time
ever. But it won't always be like this. I know that doesn't help much right now, but it's something to hold on to. If I'd stopped believing that my life would eventually get better, I don't think I would have survived..." "I wish things were easier for you, Noelle. But all of the pain you're feeling right now will make you stronger. Trust me: that strength will make you a better person. Then you can help other people who aren't as strong."
Page 154: "I should've done a lot of things I'll never get another chance to do."
Page 157: "We were both careful not to let our secret agony show, even when we were screaming inside. Why didn't I do something to let her know she's not alone? That she
wasn't alone. I wish I'd told her about The Road. About how it can lead to a better life if we keep holding on. If she had just held on a little longer..."
Page 161: "And whether it remains a complete disaster or starts getting better is up to me. I can't control everything, but there are some things I can change. We're products of our choices. I can make a choice to do more than just survive. Which is why I'm going to start shaping my life into the one I want."
Page 163: "You don't want him to get too close because you're afraid he's not going to like you anymore, right?"
Page 166: "And maybe I can find a way to start making things better now instead of waiting until later."
Page 169: "Love is never guaranteed. Love is as risk we take because we hope it will make us happy."
Page 171: "It's wild how unexpected experiences can shape your life in ways you never saw coming." "The piece I wrote is about how we all affect the people around us, whether or not we realize it. It's about how everything is connected. And how each one of us can influence the fate of others by our own actions."
Page 176: "The kids here look like they're having deep conversations about meaningful things."
Page 177: "It's charged and laid back at the same time, you know?"
Page 181: "Like people who live their lives with no regrets." "Let me try. Let me be the one you can count on."
Page 183: "I heard that every time you access a memory, you rewrite it a little bit. So our memories change over time. This is one memory I want to keep intact for as long as I can."
Page 187: "Being done means not hiding anymore. I t means not letting fear or shame dictate my decisions."
Page 188: "I have to trust that there are people in my life who actually care about me. And I have to let them help."
Page 191: "No one should be ashamed to speak up. Shame makes it easy for neglect and abuse and bullying to stay huddled together..."
Page 193: "Top 5 ways people can surprise you: 5. Just when you think they've given up on you, they prove that they never will. 4. they find a way to speak up after staying silent for so long. 3. They defend you when you least expect it. 2. By showing you how life can get better now. 1. By helping you find a place to belong."
Page 194: "If you feel stuck, you have the power to unstick yourself." "The good kind of motion, where you're moving forward. Where you refuse to let a bad day stop you. Where you're committed to keep going no matter what."
Page 199: "I just have to understand where she's coming from." "Someone who sees the true me and likes what he sees. I love that he wants to take care of me. And now I'm ready to let him."
Page 201: "No matter what happens, never
ever give up. Happiness is not limited. There's enough for everyone. You can start right now, today, to move toward a happier life. Your life is shaped by your choices. Make ones that will help you get where you want to go. Find your place to belong. It may not be a physical place. At least, not yet. Maybe your place is somewhere you let your imagination take you. Maybe it's your vision of the way your ideal life will be." "You're whole world will open up in ways you kept believing were possible. and you'll be so happy you held on long enough to make it there."
Page 202: "Let's own what makes us unique. Let's refuse to allow haters to stop us from moving forward. Let's turn our dreams into reality. Starting now."
