From the moment the clock struck twelve on my 13th birthday-when my parents brought a pineapple cake into my room-until the final days of 2024, just one year away from adulthood, life has been a whirlwind of change. I've lost friends, trust, and loved ones, only to find new friendships, renewed faith, and love in unexpected places. Through it all, one constant has remained: poetry.On my darkest days, it became my refuge, the only medium through which I could let go and express myself. It held my grief when I had no one to confide in, echoed my frustrations when words failed me, and stitched together the pieces of my heart when I felt like I was falling apart. And on my happiest days, it danced beside me in the wind, capturing fleeting moments of joy I longed to hold onto forever, reminding me that even in the chaos of life, beauty could still be found in the smallest of things.The past five years have been a journey of angst, thrill, and uncertainty-a chapter familiar to anyone navigating the tides of growing up. In this era of AI and digital art, I want to share something raw, something real-a glimpse into how I transformed my highs and lows into poetry that speaks to the soul.Now, I bid adieu to my innocence and the fleeting years of adolescence. Like a caterpillar undergoing metanoia, I have shed my old self, transformed through pain, love, loss, and growth. As I stand on the threshold of a new beginning, ready to spread my wings and embrace the unknown, I leave behind this collection-my final archive of youth. A testament to the highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the beauty found in change. May these words resonate with you, just as they once did with me.