Dear Rachel Of The Past,

If only you could see then just how far you'd come, all the obstacles you'd face, and all the things you'd accomplish.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

I know everything seems like it's the end of the world right now. You want to get out of high school, you want to stop being heartbroken by the same person, you want to feel like you belong to a group of people, you want to move to somewhere new where no one knows you or your name, you want to feel like you have worth.

You're tired of the routine you have going on. You're tired of always feeling sad, you're tired of always feeling like a failure, and most importantly you're tired of living.

You felt like this for so long. You don't think you'll know any other feeling than this one.

Well, guess what? You won't feel that way when you're 18 (almost going to be 19, crazy how you didn't think you'd make it past 14, right?)

You'll have graduated from high school. You'll have left behind that person who kept hurting you. You'll have found your people (and trust me, they'll be keepers). You'll have a best friend that lives in Ireland and you'll be going to visit her in the summer. Can you believe it?

You'll maybe not go to the college you wanted to, in New York City, where no one knew you or your name, but you'll end up going to another great college in Philly where, in a sea of thousands of other students, you'll have found your place. You'll join a sorority and meet some of the best people ever. You'll join so many other clubs where you'll meet some more of the best people ever, and in the process, it'll help you even find yourself.

Most importantly, you'll have found your worth.

You'll know what's best for you now. You'll do things for yourself. You'll live your life so proudly and unapologetically.

I'm happy to tell you that you made it. You survived. You really did.

Love,

18-year-old Rachel