Dear me,
I wish I could describe for you how different high school will go than you think it will. I wish I could describe how much things will change by the time you get to where I’m at. Let me tell you one thing, it isn’t always a fun journey, but it is quite the ride. You have lots of ups and lots of downs and lots and lots of growing to go through. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Just remember a few things.
First, remember that you’re a work in progress. That never changes. You have all these ideas about what you want to do and where you want your life to go. There’s nothing wrong with them. But they will change. They will radically change. Where I am now compared to where you think you’ll be in four years isn’t remotely the same. Over the next four years, virtually everything about you will change. You’ll develop new passions, make new friends, and start down a completely different path in your life. Don’t worry. It’s totally worth it, and I don’t regret it one bit. It will be sad and difficult at many points, but you’ll be better off for it.
Also, remember that everyone around you is a work in progress too. The people who you are friends with now, won’t be around when you graduate. As sad as it is to say, they will care a lot more about their lives, interests, and goals than they do about yours. It will really stink for a while, but you’ll make new friends. And you’ll realize that the friends you did have were just moving in a different direction than you. It’s okay; that’s life.
You’ll be better off making new friends who are pursuing the same interests and goals as you are. It will all be okay. In fact, your new friends will actually be the most instrumental in helping you see what life is going to look like for you in the long haul. They’ll help you realize your passions and goals and encourage you to reach them. In the end, those struggles were worth it.
Remember that you are immensely blessed. Over the next four years, you will see over and over again that you have abundantly more than you can ever ask for. You don’t deserve the family you have. You don’t deserve the friends you will get. You don’t deserve the life you will live, but it was given to you anyway. You will come to understand that life is not a right, it is a gift. That will change everything. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.
Please remember that there are things bigger than yourself. At this moment, you are so focused on yourself and your wants and desires that you are missing out on a world that is so much bigger than you. You’re offended to hear me say that even. But you will find out how true this is. I’m still finding out how true this is. There is a lot more need in this world than sitting at home and playing sports video games. There’s a whole world out there. And believe it or not, you will eventually travel around the globe to meet some of those needs. (The picture is actually from my mission trip to Uganda, Africa. You have no idea that's going to happen.)
There is so much more I could talk about. There is so much more I wish I could say. And to be completely honest, I’m glad I didn’t have this letter sitting in front of me four years ago. Half the fun is not knowing what to expect. You hate that now, but you will learn to love it. In fact, you’ll learn far more than I can put into words. Just remember one thing above all, you will never do this alone.
