Dear Miley,

Dear Miley,

I'm not a superstar, I don't fly on private jets and I don't own a stable filled with horses, but like you, I have had my heart broken before, and I have had people make fun of me. Miles to Go spoke to me and told me that in order for people to love and respect me, I must love and respect myself. I have never actually compared my life to living in a fish bowl, but in a way I am swimming circles around a nothing town when I should be out exploring the world. I feel like a caged animal, I need to be set free, and so did you. I say did because you are clearly out of the cage, your a superstar, but I know in some aspects of your life your still a little trapped and I can tell that from this book. For some, life being a climb is a clever metaphor, and a great song, but my life is actually a climb, I'm climbing to the top, becoming more comfortable with myself, growing as a person, and not taking a breath until I reach the top.

I have looked up to you since the very first episode of Hannah Montana, and reading Miles to Go only made me understand you are a REAL person, you're not perfect and you are just like anyone else. I read this book once over the summer, then read it again this school year. Yeah, it technically was not assigned but it's way better than reading, Their Eyes Were Watching God. I have struggled with hate on the internet also, I guess it's kind of becoming an international, world wide problem. You have twitter and blog problems, like people saying stuff about you and your "cankles" and the way you express yourself. I get verbally attacked for my fashion sense, sexuality, and also my ways of expressing myself. You start the novel in sixth grade I was what you weren't, popular, but that was then, this is now. I have plenty of friends, don't get me wrong, but in a good way I have kind of always felt on my own, lonely...but happy. I have a few friends that are like my Mandy, I could call them and tell them I just killed a man and they would talk me through it, they are sweethearts, and the loves of my life. I say loves plural because in my case, the love came in the form of bestfriends, and in your case it came with curly brown hair and a smile that could melt ice.

I have very similar emotions to you, one day I am the nicest boy you'll ever meet, happy as a cloud, and the next day I'm miserable, hating life. I let my emotions run my life, they take me over, and sometimes the emotions aren't even mine. If my friend is angry at someone, I'll become very angry at the same person. Sometimes I fear I cannot think for myself, but I know i just have aspects of my life in which i am in no way unique. In my school/grade/town loving Taylor Swift is a cliche, but I loved her back when there were teardrops on her guitar. You idolize people who changed the music world, I idolize people who change my world. Lady Gaga is my role model for her work with gay rights, Beyonce is another because she is a caring christian, and thats exactly how I was raised. You are so close with your family, and I envy you. Sometimes I feel like my parents don't even know me. They love me unconditionally, and I know that, but they don't understand me. My sisters and brother are the very best I could ask for, I assure you there is no better, but sometimes I think I'm not the best brother for them.

I am only sixteen, but there are a few things I know, I know I will never be the kid I was, I know I will never love the way I loved that one girl who never really loved me back, I know I will make something of myself, and I know that no matter what people do or try to do to me, I, Patrick Elvin, will keep climbing until I reach the very top, and I won't stop for a breath until I get there. I guess I'm just stuck at the bridge of a song, I know what the ending sounds like, and I know it's way better than the start, but I'm just not there yet. I guess all I can do is enjoy the view and live while I can.
Keep Moving, Keep Climbing, Keep the Faith, Thank You.
Love, Patrick Ray Elvin