Dear High School Me,

As soon as you enter the big doors of the ninth grade, for some reason, everything changes. People become judgmental, they care how you dress and what you look like and especially who you hang out with. As a high schooler life is ALL about wearing hat's cool and hanging out with the "IT" crowd. I wish I could say I was the girl who didn't care what people thought but unfortunately during my high school days I did care what people thought about me and cared about being popular.

By being popular, you have to do what the “cool” people want you to do. Little did I know then, that is not what I wanted to do at all. By becoming popular in high school, it involves a lot of peer pressure to go against all morals you learned growing up, to dress how others think you should and hangout with the people that are also in the “popular group.” Looking back now I realize how ignorant I was to care about what people thought about me so much that I would change who I was for them. Something I wish I knew then is IT DOESN'T MATTER. Enjoy life and make the most of your high school years!

Some things I wish I would have known are:

Your GPA Freshman year really does matter- That 30 minutes you could have studied for a test that could have boosted your grade from a B to an A really does matter in the long run (sadly).

Friends before boys ALWAYS- Just because you think he is perfect, awesome and wonderful do not ditch your friends all the time, whatever you do....trust me you will regret it.

Get involved- This is the best way to make friends while doing the things you love such as playing sports, drama club, art club or whatever your heart desires.

Enjoy Mom's home cooked meals while you can- When you get to college, you will miss it so much! Ramen becomes a daily struggle.

#HatersGonnaHate - People are going to find problems with you no matter what so don't let it get you down. Stay who you are and do not change for anyone.

It's going to be OK. Life can get CRAZY hard, trust me I experienced it first hand in high school but DO NOT GIVE UP. I know it is hard to see past Friday night, break-ups, parental divorce but it is going to be okay, trust me. You are worth so much more and there are far better things ahead than the things we leave behind.

By being myself, which is what I do now, I have made some of the best friends and made so many amazing memories doing things that I love, being weird and not caring one single bit.