@notsashasha: 1. I live alone in a tiny apartment. People expected me to have a nicer place by now. But I just needed somewhere I could afford while I figure things out. 2. I send half of what I earn to my family every month. Some think it’s “too much.” But for me, it’s just the right thing to do. 3. I never had the typical teen experience. No prom, no crushes, no love stories. Most can’t relate. So they walk away. 4. I speak slowly because I’m scared of making mistakes in English. People find that awkward. I see it as courage. 5. I’ve never touched alcohol. Some say I’m boring. But I just have different values. 6. I flinch when someone touches me unexpectedly. People call me distant. But no one ever asks why. 7. When I don’t get certain jokes or cultural references, I stay quiet. People usually assume I have no personality. In truth, I’m just learning in a world that never explained the rules.