Have you ever wanted to go back in time and just tell yourself what you've learned? Every high school aged human goes through a lot of ups and downs, and many of these challenges would have been much easier to face with some insight from a slightly older version of myself. Here's what I would have told myself a few years ago.

Hi there, self.

First of all, how are you? You look tired. Which makes sense, because for whatever reason, you insist on waking up every day at five o'clock in the morning to put on a full face of makeup, do your hair perfectly, and pick out an outfit that will try to impress people that will not not even be a part of your life in the long run. You can't even make the argument that you were looking polished for yourself because I know you, and I know that most mornings you would have much rather just hit the snooze button and looked a bit more... natural?

So I guess we will start with that. Listen, self. You don't need to impress anyone with how you look right now. If you want to come to school feeling super fabulous and all done up, go for it. But if you want to sleep longer and wear some sweats, go for it. Sleep is always a good thing. The people who care about you won't care that your hair is a bit out of place or that your face isn't contoured. They will want you to be happy with yourself.

Speaking of tired, why are you working so often? High school is about studying, being involved, and not feeling like you are about to die of stress every five seconds. You started a job that required a lot of your time right when you could start working, disregarding the fact that you had always enjoyed running track and acting in the school plays, and your time for that is now consumed with working. Keep in mind that those memories, being onstage and sprinting the 400-meter dash will last a lifetime. You have your whole life to work.

Seriously self, don't worry about guys. You have been hurt by someone and that really made you feel like garbage, but you have spent too long hurting over him. Someone that will make you laugh, smile, and genuinely show you what real love is is coming, so don't waste your time on superficial and disloyal people. Be independent and focus on having fun with your ladies because those friendships will last, I promise you.

Invest a little more time looking into colleges and weighing your options. College is a huge decision and spending more time comparing colleges, writing application letters, and making sure you are making the right decision is crucial. Don't push it to the back burner because you feel busy with all your activities and work. Make time to invest in your future.

Lastly, make the most of it. While high school is not something you want to revisit after graduation, you can make some wonderful memories with the kids from your area, and create friendships that will last a lifetime. Invest in the people who make time for you and care about you, study hard, laugh a lot, attend events, sing confidently in choir, and enjoy these few years of learning and preparation for the adult world.

Here's the thing. Once you are off by yourself, all the silly issues you faced back in high school will be irrelevant. Be confident and work for your future instead of worrying so much about the little things happening now.