"Not Waving But Drowning"

I guess I generally come across as a happy, bubbly person. After spending 8 years at the same school with all the same people, most of them found me to be that happy, bubbly person. Only my best of friends ever ventured deeper, to find that lost side of me that I hide and only share with the people who I trust the most.
At school I could never be sad. As hard as I tried, the environment and all the people around me kept me from ever being anything but happy. Over the summer, I was talking to one of the kids who I went to school with for the past 8 years online. We were talking and talking, and I mentioned something about how much I always over-think things. He seemed quite surprised by this. He admitted that I continued to come across as just being happy-nothing else. No depth. I was surprised by this even more. Couldn't my peers see through me? Did they not realize that there was something more? We kept talking and as he got to know me better he admitted that I was surprisingly deep. After realizing this he had a new level of respect for me, and really seemed more interested in who I was. I was no longer just thing happy being....I was real.
So many people at that school saw me as that happy, bubbly person, but never got to know the whole story. They never saw me for who I really am. That other side that thinks too much into things and is very emotional. I wish I could turn around and let all of those students change their opinions on me. But its a little late now. I feel like ever since that one boy changed how he felt about me, that now I want everyone to feel different as well. I like how he gave me a second chance, how he was able to look past his original thoughts. But I sure am glad that he did.