Why growing up a "bigger girl" has made me the woman I am today

Growing up a "bigger girl," has taught me a lot about life.
It showed me what it was like to hate myself, love myself and every emotion in between.
I never really thought anything was wrong with my size until I began getting made fun of in middle school for my size. But in middle school, I became "popular" and hung out with a bunch of beautiful, thin friends who are still my best friends until this day. I think I am beautiful and there are other people that would agree with me.
But growing up overweight taught me to truly love unconditionally, this is because I never wanted to be loved by conditions.
I then in my junior year of highschool lost 40 lbs and was very thin. But by losing the weight I was not necessarily more attractive because I was thinner, I was more attractive because I was still me, just more confident. I was, and am, an uplifting, hardworking person. I love to encourage others, and by losing weight many people looked to me as a role model, which was empowering. I had not only healthy eating patterns but healthier life patterns. I was kind, and loving and caring to everyone regardless of their size because I knew what it had felt like to be overweight and be made fun of due to that.
Growing up overweight has made me a more open, loving person.