Dear younger version of me,

Things won’t always be easy, but it is important to always believe, and to hope, that things will get better. Because they will. As you grow up, you come to find that the world is not so black and white -- there are a lot of gray areas, and things that shouldn’t happen but still do. I’m not trying to make it sound like the future is bleak, just telling you that it’s not always a walk in the park.

There is one thing in life that you have absolute control over: yourself. Being in control of yourself means that you also have control of your actions. How you act and speak will define who you are and you want to be proud of that person. Unfortunately, no matter what actions you may take, you cannot control the actions or words of other people. But, you can control your reactions to them.

I have found that “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”. This bit of advice is important. You grow from the obstacles that you overcome, and it is so important that you do whatever it is you want and not be afraid of what others may think.

Try new things, I encourage it. Learn how to take care of your car, how to do laundry before getting to college, and balance a checkbook -- trust me, you’ll appreciate these skills later in life.

Remember to always put your family first. They will be with you through thick and thin, and whether you realize it or not, they will always love you. Appreciate what and who you have, because the memories you make will be some of the best to look back on.

Cherish every new thing you try and every person you meet. You never know who could become your best friend, your boyfriend, or an extended piece of family to you.

That boy you date in high school? He might be the one. He might break your heart. But you have to experience it to learn from it.

That test you studied so hard for and failed? It’s not the end of the world. You’ll still go to college, get a job, have a career -- just get ready for the next one.

That one thing that you absolutely freaked out over (which was a different thing every week) will be minor in the bigger scheme of things.

So relax, enjoy life, and maybe learn how to do something with your hair. You’re still not very good at it.

With love,

An older you