1. Stop waiting on your boobs to grow because they don’t. You have been dubbed a life long member of the IBTC (itty bitty titty committee) and unfortunately, it’s not a very popular club. I know that you have read every teen magazine about puberty (thanks, Mom) but they are wrong. They fail to mention that not every little girl grows up to be granted boobs.

2. Although you lack in the boob department, love your body because you aren’t getting another one. No, but seriously, love your body. Boys will make fun of your body and you will be called mean names, but life goes on. They can only hurt you if you let them. Be proud of what you look like. You have small boobs and that helps with cross country in the long run (get it? long. run. hahahahaha). But on a serious note, you will be thankful that your boobs aren’t saggy by the time you’re my age.

3. Go all out for people. Contrary to popular belief, you should swim oceans for people who wouldn’t jump puddles for you. I mean it. That sounds crazy, I know, but it is of utmost importance. This world lacks compassion. We only give as much love to people as they give to us. Do not let the brutality of the world make your heart grow cold. Give to people who can never repay you. Love those who are hard to love. I have learned that sometimes the people in life who seem to be the coldest are the way they are because, perhaps, they have been left out in the rain. Be the warm jacket for those who have been hardened by the harsh weather.

4. Do not let yourself be taken advantage of. As mentioned in the above piece of advice, I do want you to go all out for people. But don’t kill yourself in the process. In the grand scheme of things, I want you to love people with all of your heart, but the person who needs the most love is yourself. There will be times in your life that you will go all out for someone who does not care about you at all. Instead of getting mad at them, feel compassioniate toward them. You should feel sorry for them because they do not know what it is like to truly love someone.

5. Do not feel complacent in your life. Go out and try new things! Try all kinds of sports because you will regret only having done two. Have mom and dad sign you up for music lessons. Make new friends when the others treat you badly, and believe me they will. Stop feeling bored! I’m still learning about all the things Uhrichsville has to offer! Just stop doing the same things over and over!

6. Cheerleading is not for you. There really doesn’t need to be a further explanation.

7. Stand up for yourself. I hate seeing you get bullied by the same a**holes every day. You are picked on because you let them pick on you. They thrive on your tears and they love it when you get upset. They’ll only tease you because you give them a reaction. Have some faith in yourself.

8. Stone is your first best friend, protect him. Like you, he’ll experience heartbreak and as his sister, you will want to stand up for him. Do it. He might not appreciate it at the time, but it doesn’t matter. As siblings, you will never find someone else that will love you more. And even though he won’t admit it, he will call you while you’re in college just to tell you he misses you.

9. Tell grandma you love her every chance you get. This is your last year with her so you better make it worthwhile. Bake with her, stay up watching The Food Network with her, give her hugs even when your friends are around, and don’t forget to tell her you love her. This number could go on forever because I miss her dearly and there are a thousand things I would do differently, but the most important one is to just always, always tell her you love her.*

*Don’t ever forget that she already knows this.

10. He is not worth it. There isn’t a specific one either. Just don’t let a guy control your happiness. And in the same breath, do not let anyone control your happiness.

11. Please do something with your hair. Because of you wearing your hair like that, I am forced to untag myself from pictures on Facebook. Here is a tip: straighten your hair and wear it down. Throw all of your weird clips away so you won’t be tempted to clip your bangs back.

12. While you’re at it, do not wear your makeup like that or do that weird thing with your face in pictures. All that’s to say is pictures do not lie and they will be put on social media where they will live forever.

13. Stop being so hard on yourself. You'll make so many mistakes that it’s scary, but it’s life. You’re also 13 and that’s like the age where you’re supposed to be weird and ugly and weird (it’s called the junior high stage).

So, there you have it! My life might have turned out differently if I would have known these things, but where is the fun in that?