By Alejandra Wells
If you had told middle school me that one day Iâd be voted Homecoming Queen, I wouldâve laughed.
Growing up, I was not the popular kid. I got bullied a lot, for my hair, for how I spoke Spanish, for my forehead... just things that shouldnât matter, but felt huge at the time.
After COVID hit, though, something shifted. I stopped caring what people thought. I started being unapologetically me.
Sure, I still got teased. But it didnât stick the same way anymore.
When I launched Hiya, I locked in on my mission, spreading mental health awareness, building a space for positivity, and just trying to be kind. And when your heart is focused on impact, the noise fades out.
Thatâs what made being crowned Homecoming Queen so surreal.
It wasnât about the crown or the title; it was about the message. That people saw me. That staying true to yourself and leading with love actually does make a difference.
My mom always taught me: âTalk crap on nobody, and be kind to everybody.â
That stuck.
Because honestly, you never know what someone else is going through.
The very least we can do is be kind.
Did you know it takes five 5-star reviews to cancel out one 1-star review on Google? Thatâs how powerful negativity is. So why add to it?
Being honored as Homecoming Queen wasnât about being perfect; it was a reminder that healing, kindness, and staying real resonate. And if even one person felt a little more seen because of me, thatâs the real win.
Notice the little moss that hangs on my shirt in the photos.
A moss is often seen as a symbol of patience, resilience, and adaptability because it can thrive in diverse, shady, and damp conditions.
After all that Iâve been through, it feels so symbolic to have a moss rest on me the night I was honored. I didnât even realize until after the photos were taken, but it stayed the entire time.
Being voted Homecoming Queen was a realization of the impact Iâve had, not because I was popular, but because I stayed true to my mission and led with love.
