I have dealt with selective mutism for my whole life. As a baby, my parents would arrange playdates with their friend's kids. Whenever these happened, I would stay silent and not interact with the other child at all. Once they left, my whole demeaner changed back into a babbling, bubbly baby. My parents' friends suggested that I might have autism, but my parents knew that wasn't the case. It wasn't until one friend suggested that I may have selective mutism, that I was diagnosed at just two years old. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have always felt like the odd one out. I always had to communicate with teachers and students using a notepad and pen. School counselors tried to help me, but they didn't know how. My selective mutism hung over my head like a curse. Having selective mutism made me feel very insecure and worthless. I worried about my future. Every birthday felt like a ticking time bomb; a reminder that I was getting older. I thought that once I became an adult, there would be no place for me in the world. Everything changed when I started going to therapy a few months ago. My therapist specializes in treating people with selective mutism. Thanks to her guidance, I have finally been able to start breaking out of my shell. I have been able to order my food at restaurants and say a few words to students and teachers. Therapy has changed my life in the best way possible. I finally feel like I have a future that doesn't include rotting away on my parents' couch. Suddenly, everything I never thought I could achieve was just out of reach. In only a few months, my outlook on the future has completely changed. Now, I am actively researching scholarships, colleges, and potential careers. Before, thinking about the future gave me so much anxiety, that I scarcely though of it at all. However, now I find myself constantly thinking about my future. Instead of thinking of what I can do, I have started thinking about what I want to do and what I need to do to achieve those goals. Although I still struggle with selective mutism, I am so much more optimistic of what the future holds for me than I have ever been before. If I have improved so much in just a couple of months, I can't even imagine what I will accomplish in a few years from now. I am considering going into the medical field so that I can help people. I want to change the world even if it's only a little bit. Pursuing a college degree is just one small step forward into achieving my dreams. Before, I couldn't even allow myself to dream, but now I feel myself bursting with so much hope for the future. I know that there will be obstacles along the way, but I am determined to hurdle over them. I used to think that having selective mutism made me weak, but now I realize that it has made me resilient to the struggles I face everyday. Getting a college degree will be a huge milestone to show how far I have come since I was a young child. I want to challenge myself to achieve what I thought I never could.