Dear sixteen year old me,

How’s it going? Happy Birthday, sista! Go get your license! It’s time to celebrate! I know you’re only a sophomore in high school and it kinda sucks. Don’t worry, things get better. Try to enjoy school a little bit more. It only lasts so long. These are literally the simplest years of your life. Join more activities in school and try to laugh a little bit more. Keep playing sports. You’ll miss them when you graduate. This is the perfect time to try new things. Join that club and audition for that musical. You’ll find you have hidden talents that are worth showing the world. Honestly, don’t try so hard in school. Whether you get an A+ or an A-, it’s still an A. Start taking Fashion class as soon as you can, because you’re actually very good at it and it is a lot of fun. You’ll soon find that it’s one of the best parts of your day.

Try to relax more. Stop caring so much. Just go with the flow. Once you do that, you’ll find some of your best friends. Stop overthinking things. You’re creating problems for yourself that you don’t need to exist. Try to laugh more. Actually show people that you are funny because you are. Laugh out loud at things instead of keeping them to yourself. Life is a funny thing and so are high school boys. If you take a step back and look around high school, it is a pretty funny place to be. You never know what’s going to fly out of somebodies mouth. Especially your Italian teachers.

This one is hard because I know you couldn’t live without music, but try taking out your headphones once in awhile. Listen to what’s going on around you; speak up, add your input. Talk to more people; all kinds of people. Not just the people you already know and are friends with. You won’t meet your best friend until junior year, but maybe you would have if you spoke up more. Oh, and the girl that will be your best-friend is fab; so, don’t worry. Fun is coming your way. Pay more attention to the quiet guys. There are some good ones out there.

Lastly, love yourself more. Keep working out and running because you will end up loving it. You will be making it part of your everyday life. That’s when you can blast your music all you would like. Keep growing your hair out and take really good care of it. It will be your favorite part of yourself. Red is quite a striking color. Honestly, you look better with less makeup. Please end it with the bottom mascara. It looks weird without the eyeliner on you. On that note, don’t think you need to wear makeup every day. Once college comes, you’ll barely wear it on weekdays at all. Love yourself just the way you are.

High school is only four years. You’re already almost halfway done with it; so, chill out. Enjoy all of the free time you have. You won’t have it once college comes. You start working more. Don’t even worry about the ACT. You’ll take it, you’ll do fine, and that will be the end of it. It’s totally not a big deal. You’ll end up getting the same score both times you take it anyway.

To sum it up, enjoy your life more. You are a very pretty, smart, and funny girl. Show it off more. You’re only a teenager for so long. Soon you’ll be a sophomore in college and be turning 20 in two months. Have more fun. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Love,