I can picture you in your Sunland Elementary School colored blue T-shirt, jamming to all the One Direction songs you know by heart by now. Perhaps using your first technology device, the $50 table you were given for your birthday that you only use to watch One Direction concert videos and to log in to Facebook. Or perhaps on the home phone with your best friend Erika, venting to her about the boy Andres you've been crushing on since sixth grade. "Those were the good old days," older me would whisper in your ear. They were the good old days until you decided you wanted to grow up.

I do want to start by thanking you for being your awesome self, your dedication as a student has brought me very far. Perhaps not as far as 13-year-old self would've wanted but that's another talk for high school you. Eighth grade is finally your third year in the United States, your English is still a little broken. Your parents had finally bought their first house here in Arizona, and you guys finally had moved out of your aunt's house, the obnoxious lady who hated you and your mom so much. No matter how difficult the days were sharing a roof with her and her family, I am here to tell you that you will not be seeing her in years, but do be thankful she shared a roof with you when you didn't have one.

Eighth grade is a year on a rollercoaster of emotions. There are days that you find yourself crying back home while your mom drives you from school. There are also days that you can't wait to get home to lay in your bed and replay the moments of Andres when he asked you to borrow your pencil, or he perhaps finally spoke two or three words to you. There is also days that you find yourself scared of the thought of enrolling to high school because you feel like the students will be as mean as they were to you all throughout middle school, especially the "popular girls." You may also feel unaccepted from society, but you are finally adapting to the environment especially academically. I'd like to tell you that the only thing that will actually matter are your dreams and how you are going to accomplish them, and congratulations you are nothing like the ones that bring you down. You don't have to fit into society, you were meant to stand out.

All of the girls that are currently bringing you down will drop out of high school, all for except two will have babies around 15. So no, it does not matter that you will never look like them or to be liked by any of their social circles. You will never see these girls in high school, and not definitely down here in college. All of their names have been forgotten, except when it came down to writing you this letter.

Hanging out with the student teacher in sixth grade wasn't the saddest thing ever because you didn't have any friends, I understand people laughed at you but you will meet real friends that will like you for who you are and not what you look like in a year or so from now.

Andres' heartbreak when he began dating that one girl, won't be the most painful heartbreak. You will meet many other boys after him, boys that will actually be attractive and your type will definitely change. The sad news is that they will also break your heart, but it'll be worth it because it will shape us into the wonderful and badass woman we are currently becoming. There will be at least two very special ones, who I will admit I don't regret meeting. We share many memories and moments, your perspective and the ways you view life have definitely been changed. They introduced me into new music and traditions I had no idea about. Those two definitely left a mark and a scar in my heart, although they were both three years apart from when you'll meet them. And also it doesn't matter that almost everyone has gotten their first kiss in middle school, and don't rush to get intimate with anyone in high school. I know the type of girl you are and I know you will wait for the one, just like I am currently waiting to meet the love of my life. Patience is the key, and destiny will introduce you into the right one at the right time.

Just hang in there, eighth grade will be over before you know it and so will high school. Getting your period will be the worst thing that'll ever happen to you, but you will adapt like you always do and it'll become totally normal. No, I do not know if you'll marry Harry Styles. Maybe you will and that's why destiny keeps cursing everyone I meet. You will get a puppy at some point, and you will name him after Harry Styles. There will be many accomplishments at the end of the road, just keep up the dedication and patience you currently have. You are now a freshman at Arizona State University, and you are living your best life.

Sincerely,

Your Almost 19-year-old self