A Letter to my Cousin on her Seventeenth Birthday
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A Letter to my Cousin on her Seventeenth Birthday

Chances are, you will always know what the right decision is.

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A Letter to my Cousin on her Seventeenth Birthday
Ian Schneider

Junior year of high school is rough. You’re stressed all the time about colleges, standardized tests, and the overwhelming pressure to feel like you need to know exactly what you want to do with your life.

I remember feeling like the world was closing in on me because I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go or what was going to be my major.

I wanted to give you advice and now that I am staring down my last semester of college, I want you to know that I am feeling that stress and pressure all over again but the difference is; I’m okay with it.

My first piece of advice is to embrace uncertainty. Uncertainty is a part of life. Even though it can be scary, it can also be exciting. Life has a way of steering you in the right direction even if you’re lost. You just have to trust that you will end up exactly where you need to be. That’s not to say that you should lose all your dreams and ambitions; keep them close to heart but you should also be willing to go where life takes you. Trust that it’ll all work out; I promise it always does.

My second piece of advice is to bring good vibes and positivity to everything you do. This isn’t always easy but your attitude will change the way you remember each experience. Being positive will help ensure that you will always have more good days than bad days. When I have a bad day, I always repeat, “It’s a bad day not a bad life.” It helps me gain perspective and start fresh the next day.

Third, enjoy your time and your friends as much as possible. I definitely didn’t love high school but I loved my friends and even in college, they are some of my most trusted confidants.

I know that everyone tells you to be yourself, but it’s sound advice. It’s easy to feel the pressure of societal norms but you’ll never go wrong if you’re true to who you are.

Always trust your gut. This is the toughest lesson I learned in college that I wish I knew in high school. When faced with a choice, everyone tells you to listen to your head or your heart. Though I think both inform a decision, I’ve made more decisions based on my gut and it’s never steered me wrong. Chances are, you will always know what the right decision is without even consulting your head or your heart. When your gut tells you something, listen.

I hope you remember this advice during the good times and the bad.

You are strong, intelligent, and beautiful.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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