Dear 16-year-old me,

Just a warning, this is going to be a tough year. So, remember to enjoy yourself as much as possible. Your sweet 16 party was amazing, you have the greatest best friend by your side, and you will always have the world’s best mom. Don’t let family and school drama get to you too much.

You see and hear the quote all the time, but it’s time to start believing that “it is what it is”, and that you’re not at fault for anything and that you can’t fix the world’s problems on your own. Stop worrying so much about how others see you or think of you, and start concentrating on how much you truly love yourself. I know that feeling is buried pretty deep, but the sooner you find it, the less trouble you will have finding it in the future.

PAY ATTENTION IN ENGLISH CLASS. For goodness sake, it’s your favorite subject, there’s no excuse for you failing that class, Ashley.

Stop letting your “friends” walk all over you. Wake up and notice which ones out of your group of friends are the real ones. Here’s a secret from the future, only one of them actually cares about you, stick with her and trash the rest. Remember that real friends don’t mock your passions, or tease you because of your preferences. No matter how many times they try to invalidate the hurt that they cause you, remember that they’re only messing with you because they are insecure about some aspect of their own lives. Remember that you don’t owe anyone anything. Stop feeling guilty for cutting contact with certain people. Keep looking out for your own well-being.

Stop thinking that you need to be older than you are. You’re 16, enjoy it. Go to the football games, stop worrying about how fast you can get a job, or how soon you’ll be able to buy a car. It will happen in time.

Make big goals and strive towards them. Apply to different colleges, get out of that town as soon as possible, and don’t look back.

Remember that you are such a wonderful person, you are loved, you are valued, and you are so fierce. You’ll figure life out, at some point. Maybe you won’t have it figured out by the time you’re 22, but you’ll have a pretty good idea by then.

Love,

22-year-old you.