To all my HuffPost Teen people: Bekah, Leo, Sam, Erin, Lauren, Taylor, Emma (who snuck in somehow without us realizing it). You were all older cool kids and I wanted to be just like you. I’m pretty sure that’s why I started writing books. Okay, it’s part of it, anyway.

Thank you to those I wrote with at MTV Founders. Thank you to Rookie, specifically Tavi Gevinson, Diamond Sharp, and Derica Shields. It was the first (and so far only) experience I had where only black women were editing my work. I loved it and was extremely proud to be published by Rookie.

Thank you to Julie Zeilinger for running the WMC FBomb and giving me opportunities to rant about Stranger Things and interview people about herpes.

Thank you, especially, to the TIME for Kids Kid Reporter Contest, which was the first step in my journey as a published author. I was edited by a real editor and interviewed people who wrote actual books and were in movies. For the first time, I wasn’t so shy. For the first time, I thought my words could make me a big deal. Thank you for that experience. I’ll always cherish it.

Thank you so much to Shawn Decker, Sakhile Moyo, Vic Vela, Nina Martinez, and Nick Cady for sharing your expertise and making this book as real and authentic as possible. Thank you so much for your time and your knowledge.

I also have to thank the people who have been following me and cheering me on via Twitter since I was fifteen, including, but not limited to: Molli, Leah, Chasia, Gabe, Saba, Summer, Kelley, Anne, Katherine, Hannah, Justine, Gwenda, Brandon, Tehlor, Marieke, Meagan, Ellen, Julie, Rebekah, Angie M., Nafiza, Samira, Jessie, Ami, Alyssa, Sarah, Katie. Thank you to everyone who follows me and has to deal with my ramblings at all times of the day. The people who engage in conversation with me over random things and teach me about subjects I know nothing about. For making Twitter a community, even when the rest of the website is a garbage fire. Specifically, thank you to all the teens on Twitter. Some of you aren’t under the same usernames and some of you are still here. Thank you for all your thoughts. Thank you for holding the YA community accountable and forcing us to be better. Thank you for the work you do. Thank you just for being there.