Dear, well, me,
You’re probably wondering right about now, when is high school going to end? I remember such a large part of your high school experience was counting the days of when it’d finally be over and done with. Spending almost every waking moment reminding yourself there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
However, you’ve got so much left to learn.
From what I know now, only one year later after finishing high school, I realize that maybe my past approach to handling several situations wasn’t the best for myself and my mental health. Oftentimes, you suffered the consequences of a lot of disrespect and agonizing defeats because you stuck with the mentality that it wouldn’t matter in a few years. Trust me, I wish that sentiment was true. Even if you may not want them to, these things still matter and become a big part of your story. For better or for worse isn’t exactly clear yet but make the best from it of what you can.
One of my biggest regrets was not allowing myself to speak up on certain issues and struggling to assert my dominance.
It’s true when adults say that the people around you only seem so important because you’re constantly surrounded by them for several hours at a time. What you don’t know now is that all the people meant to stay with you, will. When I think of the friendships I made along the way, I realize the common denominator that made them so long-lasting: pure fun. Every moment I can think of fondly from high school always reminds me of the laughs and adventures shared between friends. The best memories come from spontaneous trips.
Don’t take things too seriously and take every friendship that didn’t work out as a lesson. Simply see it as trying to find the correct path for the future. You’ll be able to see what true friendships really look like and what matters in the end: friends and family. Break free from those fake barriers and allow yourself to become the true you who doesn’t let silly situations become so big.
Change isn’t a bad thing either.
Not at all. You’re still in the phase of a teacher being the only thing that seems to fit your personality and set of skills. While I still think it may be a possibility in the future, there’s so much you can accomplish that you wouldn’t have dreamed of. Some examples I can think of off the top of my head are writing articles for a real publication and pursuing your acting dreams.
Turns out, you possess quite the knack for the entertainment articles. Your wide sense of pop culture and niche things in the media finally came in handy. Even crazier, you’ll finally come across opportunities to go to auditions in the big city and submit your acting resumes to big film projects. These things probably don’t seem possible now, seeing as 14-year-old me was really pessimistic, but always remember that you can make your dreams into reality. Change may seem huge and a bit spooky, but those leaps of faith truly do lead to success.
For these final words, I need you to listen closely.
I bid you adieu with a quote that really resonates with me now. “I want to be great, or nothing,” written by the fabulous Greta Gerwig for her adaption of Little Women. To me, this quote inspires every new possibility I want to try or choosing to give my all into every assignment that comes my way. The biggest critique of yourself for many years was that you’re way too shy and don’t want to speak up in fear that you’ll be laughed at. The fear of being humiliated truly feels way more stressful as you spend time in high school.
As time passed, I realized that if I’m going to do something, I’m going to go big. I couldn’t keep waiting for others to approve of my actions. The way to success doesn’t come by idly waiting for everyone else to finally acknowledge you, it all starts with your own willingness to throw yourself in without looking back. While you may think that’s a tad dramatic, your journey should consist of reaching for the stars and imagining the impossible becoming, well, possible.
Keep dreaming, I’ll be waiting for you.
