1.Your mom is right about 97% of the time.

I know I was upset too. She is the smartest woman you will ever meet and should be your biggest role model. She is trying to help you grow into the woman she knows you’re capable of being. Just try to roll your eyes at her a little less, okay?

2. Hang out with dad more.

I know he just wants to watch T.V. when he comes home and you can’t sit still for long. But it would mean a lot to him if you sat on the other couch and listened to him. Even though he’ll act like you’re annoying him.

3. You’ll get to kiss the cute popular boy.

It won’t be very good so just don’t get your hopes up. Also, the five seconds of fame that follow is really stupid so stop acting cool. Oh, and it doesn’t work out in the end. Shocker.

4. Be nicer to yourself.

I wish you’d stop calling yourself fat and realize that no amount of dieting or working out will make you a size two. Eat healthy, work out when you can. You have so much more to offer to this world than a pretty face or perfect body. Looks are not everything. Exercise your mind just as much as your body. No person will make you as happy as loving yourself will.

5. Talk to your brother more.

He will say he doesn’t but he really does look up to you. So just ask him how his day was and offer to give him a ride when you can. Yes, he is annoying but my goodness do you love him and you will miss him when you move out. He will miss you too.

6. Please take a deep breath.

High school isn’t life or death. You will get into college. You will fall in love. You will be happy. So, enjoy being young. Stop pressuring yourself to be perfect. People love you no matter what. You spend so much time trying to be what you think people want you to be that you’ve lost sight of what you want. This will be a reoccurring problem. We’re working on it.

7. Cherish the moments you have with your friends.

You will miss those weirdos more than you can even imagine. So, take ALL the photos and hang out with them as much as possible. A few years from now when you’re back from college on break you get to reminisce with coffee. But you can’t reminisce if you don’t make the inside jokes and build the friendships now.

8. You’re about to lose a friend.

It was your fault. Learn from it and grow. They will come back, but it will take some time. You didn’t mean what you said. You know that and so does she. Let her heal and take the time to be a better friend to her than you were before.

9. Thank your teachers.

They don’t get paid near what they should and they really do care about you. Yes, even that teacher who is so impossible you want to scream. Ask them for help when you’re struggling. They want you to succeed. I promise they aren’t as scary as they seem.

10. Hard times are coming.

You’re about to go through something that you won’t understand. You’re going to get lost and feel as If you don’t know who you are. Hold on tight. It gets better and in few years, you’ll understand why it had to hurt so bad. I’m sorry that I can’t warn you and I’m sorry that you don’t feel strong enough. You are. Even though it hurts, feeling that pain will help you in more ways than you know. Just don’t forget how loved you.

You were awkward, weird, and made very questionable fashion choices but you did your best. High school isn’t as significant as it seems. Which is a very good thing, believe me. Thank you for making mistakes. We learned a lot from those. Thank you for working hard. I know people don’t say it enough so; high school is rough. People are downright mean and catty and stupid - you were too. But in a way, it makes going off to college so much easier. So, cherish the awkward. Bask in the memories and act like a child. You deserve to have a good time.