Letter to the 15 year old that inspired me.

Before I start with all the words of praise, I have to mention the fact that I read your diary only at a much later age than it was assigned to me. In high school, my English teacher assigned this book as an option to read among others, and I did not select your diary as I believed it would not be as interesting as the story of a man who is invisible. And I am glad of the choice I made. ,16 year old me was nowhere as intelligent and wise and 14 year old you were. 

In my haze of teenage emotions, which quite frankly you too had experienced, my problems of boy love, girlish gossips and peer validation were my highest priority. But now that I am at the level of emotional maturity where I try and understand the problems of the world, and take account of others suffering as well, I am glad I read your diary. 

When I was reading each entry, my mind kept making conclusions and assumptions (I can't control my imaginations), about the dreams that you mentioned, the hope you had and about all the days and events you could not write about while living in the annex.

You mentioned waiting to be a writer, journalist even. You wanted to change, move people with your writing, you wanted to write and give the world art with your word. I do too. 

Your love for reading and subjects like art, history and literature, made me build a bond with your words that are not understood by vain minds who are disinterested in art. Frankly, your dislike for mathematics made me like you even more. 

Your optimism was extraordinary. How you were hopeful of the future and made plans have motivated me in a way nothing was ever before. I kept reminding myself on the hard days, in the last few days while reading your diary, if you can be optimistic in the conditions you faced, I can try to overcome my insecurities too. 

Your independence, feminist view, and your courage to fight the challenges had an effect that I never expected to get from a diary.

Dearest, sweetest Anne, I am glad I read your diary, I am glad I could learn from you. I am glad the world has this masterpiece to motivate the coming generation of women. 

You inspired me. You motivated me. The world would've been better with a journalist like you. 

Yours Dearest Reader.

P.S. I could not help but question how much of the entires in the book were edited before it was published. How much did your father exaggerate to make it interesting and how much did he remove?