I refuse to live a life of regret. I refuse to hope things will get better in the future when I have complete control over making them the best possible right here and now.
So what are you waiting for? Go. Get started.
You are your own individual, with your own particular set of dreams, desires, and aspirations. Everyone has preferences unique to him or her. So know what you like, know what makes you happy, stick to your guns, and state it with confidence. You'll walk taller, and has long as you follow your gut, you won't stray far in life.
The future is as bright as you let it shine. Don't be tricked into seeing it dimly. Don't be fooled into believing that this, where you are right now, is all you get. Your potential is endless. Just act. Act now. Right now. Leap. Live. Love. So what are you waiting for? Go. Get started.
If you are highly intelligent, you'll be "an overachiever". If you're incredibly kind, you'll be "a goody-goody". If you're a little shy and quiet, you'll be "boring" or "awkward". But trust me, the judgment says more about the labeler than the labeled.
But ultimately I realized that the only person capable of pulling me out of this cycle (depression) is me. We each have a choice when feeling down: we become the helpless victim or the self-empowered conqueror. We stay down or get back up.
Never deny yourself the opportunity for self-expression, in any form. Don't underestimate the power of self-belief. Don't be limited by the expectations of others. Don't care what anybody else thinks.