For my sweetest niece,

I can't believe how fast you've grown up. It's crazy to think that you're entering high school in a few short months. I know how excited you are and I hope that it's a wonderful experience for you—but in all honesty, it's going to get hard at times. Because of how close we are in age, I know you see me as a big sister, so here is some sisterly advice.

Don't change who you are, to make others happy.

You are a smart and beautiful girl, and that will be a blessing and a curse. Kids around your age can be cruel and judgmental and will try to persuade you to do things that you aren't comfortable with. Remember in those times, that it's totally OK to be different. You may lose friends, and that's OK too. Yes, it will hurt, but if they can't accept you for who you are and who you want to be, they aren't worth having in your life.

Don't date boys, date men. (And definitely not while you're in high school.)

High school will fly by and you will save yourself so much drama and heartache if you just ignore boys. Yeah, it sounds cliché, but let me tell you why. According to a study done by Nickelodeon UK, men don't fully mature until age 43, where women fully mature around 32. That's an 11 year lag time. That just goes to show that girls mature way faster than boys. So what should that mean to you? It should mean that even though it's fun to date, neither of you, especially the guy, are mature enough to handle a relationship. The whole point of dating is to eventually find someone you want to spend your entire life with. There's around 7.4 billion people on this earth and counting, trust me, the chances your future husband is in your high school are slim. So focus on your schoolwork and just get through the next 4 years without all the drama.

Whatever your passions are, follow them.

Hold on to your dreams and goals. Pursue the things that make you the happiest. Challenge yourself to try new things and take risks. Don't give up too easily. You know that I live by this quote, and I'll remind you of it again and again.

If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough. - Author unknown

Love yourself.

You're going to be doing a lot of growing, and of course going through a lot of changes. Just remember to strive to be beautiful on the inside, rather than stressing about the outside.

Your body is what makes you sexy. Your smile is what makes you pretty. But your personality is what makes you beautiful. - Author unknown

Taking care of your health is important, and even though it can be a pain in the you-know-what, adhering to your mom's advice on things is actually important. Wear sunscreen. Don't eat too much junk food. NEVER do drugs (Had to sneak that in there). Just love who you are, and take care of the beautiful body God gave you.

Always call your aunt.

I will always be here for you. I will find time to talk to you and I want to hear about your life! Talk to me about anything you want, but know that I will be disappointed with you from time to time and that's OK because I love you and I don't want to see you getting hurt.

I wish that there was a handbook to life, but then again, that would mean you wouldn't get to experience it for yourself and that's the joy of it. So go on and try new things (not drugs) and meet new people. Be kind and love everybody.