'I'm rooting for you': Shawn Mendes reflects on 5 years of success in heartfelt message
The Canadian pop star first started posting covers on YouTube in 2014
Canadian pop star Shawn Mendes has had three hit albums, multiple No. 1 hits and even two Grammy nominations under his belt, but he's only been in the public eye for about five years. This is a fact that Mendes himself hasn't forgotten.
Taking a break from his current North American tour on Sunday, Mendes posted to Instagram to reflect on his success. "I'm thinking about being in 9th grade right now," he starts. "The day after I posted one of my first covers onto YouTube back in 2014."
Mendes goes on to detail the bullying he experienced in school for posting his videos online and how the taunting "made me feel absolutely horrible ... made me feel like a joke, like what I was doing was just stupid & wrong."
He credits his friends and family for getting him through those tough times, and encourages others to pursue their dreams regardless of what other people say.
"Every single person deserves to do what makes them feel alive," he continued. "I'm writing this not only to the 15 year old kid who's scared to follow their heart because of what people might say but also to the 50 year old who may be doing the exact same thing ... I'm here & I'm rooting for you."
Read the full post below.