Hi, hey, hello!

How's it going? Well, actually, I suppose I know how it's going so never mind.

I just wanted you to know some things.

It's okay to not fit in. I know it doesn't seem that way with being in a new school every year, but I promise it is. I would say that I don't necessarily fit in now, but I kind of like it. For the first time in our lives, I finally truly feel like myself. I feel like I don't have to put on a mask anymore for anyone because I came to Ball State and no one knew me so why would I pretend to be anything other than myself? You might not even realize you're wearing a mask right now, but you will be able to drop it one day, I promise, and you will be amazing.

You're going to be a theater teacher--yes, it is a real thing you can do. Insane, right?! I know right now you don't really know what you want to be. Heck, I didn't even make that decision until I was already at Ball State. Let me tell you, it's a lot of back and forth, especially in high school, but I finally decided that teaching was all I could imagine myself doing. I started with English, but when I was applying to Ball State, I saw theater education, I was like, "hmm that sounds cool, why not double major?" I wish I would've been able to talk to myself a year later because freshman year me would've laughed in my high school senior self's face. Double majoring, no thanks. Theater education is all I've ever wanted so no matter how useless or unimportant you feel in during a show, stick with it. I promise you will love when you get here. It is amazing.

Don't confuse infatuation with love. It's hard, I know, but the difference is huge. And don't be afraid to give someone a chance who wasn't on your radar before. It pays off in the end, I swear.

Keep exploring, trying new things, and learning about the things that interest you.

Because you turn out to be a pretty cool college student, if I do say so myself.

With so much love,

You - 21 years old