I recently went back home for the holidays. During my visit, I found a stack of my old journals I kept during high school. Yes, I journaled all through middle school and high school. I have so many diaries that it’s annoying. However, I read through some of my entries, and I couldn't help but laugh. Wheels began to turn as I read. I had so much I wanted to say to little old me. Teenager me was worried about everything. Things seemed so big at the time but were minuscule compared to the things ahead. Understandably, those years during middle and high school are scary ones. There's so much chaos, and it can get overwhelming. But I am here to tell you that it isn’t pointless. Maybe I can help some teenagers and give you some reassurance that it will all be okay.

Dear 16-year-old me,

I know how scary it is to be a teenager. You're a kid who is expected to act like an adult when you don't even know the first meaning of the word. There’s a lot of pressure to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Perhaps you put a lot of that pressure on yourself. Well, I have something to say about that. You don’t need to figure it out. Life will happen, and it will work itself out. Keep moving forward, and you will end up where you need to be. Do not worry. Life has a way of working itself out. And you will spend the rest of your life trying to “figure it out” anyways. So, don’t be in a hurry to grow up. Right now, you need to enjoy being where you’re at. Enjoy being a teen. Enjoy high school as much as you can. It will all be over, and then one day it will all just be memories. Enjoy home-cooked meals because a few years from now you will crave them. Revel in being home even though you may feel trapped sometimes.

When mom says no, even though it may really set you off, there’s probably a good reason. She’s not trying to ruin your fun. Or ruin your life. Stop being dramatic. She’s protecting you, as annoying as it seems. You'll see. And you will thank her for not allowing you to go to that party or date before the age of 16.

Also, that boy that seems so special to you. The one you say you will just die without. He doesn’t matter. When he leaves you, it may hurt, but you will see that you didn’t die after all. In fact, it was all a blessing. Give it a few months, and you will have moved on. He will only live in the past. And there is so much more in your future.

The confusion and inadequacy you feel, it will go away. You keep saying “ I think I’m a good person.” Well, one day, you will know that YOU ARE. You are great. You are wonderful. You just want to feel okay. You're unsure of who you are and why you even exist. You will find yourself. You find yourself through your experiences. The next few years will change you for the better. You will find out that you are so many good things as well as some not-so-good things. But you will surround yourself with people who love you nonetheless. They will choose to see the beauty in you.

The people who point out your flaws are not your friends. The people who pull you in a direction you don't want to go are not your friends. The people whose loyalty lies with opportunity rather than to you and your friendship are not your friends. They are toxic, and you need to let them go. Rip off the band-aid, and move on.

That being said, you will spend a good amount of time alone. You know how loneliness feels. Well, I'll let you in on a secret; you won't always be lonely. And being lonely won’t always feel so bad. You will learn to love yourself. You will find you in the loneliness. It will become a blessing to you because life will soon become hectic and you will want your alone time more than anything. Trust me.

All the weekends you stayed home instead of going out will pay off. You will find out that partying isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And that is not you. You are not that kind of person. While, at first, you will be insecure about that fact. It will separate you from almost everyone you know. However, you will find peace in the people who are like you. So, find people who you have things in common with. Finding those people is so important. They will shape you into who you are meant to become.

Embrace yourself and the little bit of you that is already found. Find the things that you like, and when you put your passions first, people will come to you. That is how you surround yourself with the right people.

You will experience so much in the next several years. You will discover so much about you and about the world. While the world is a cruel place as you once said, try not to forget that the world is also a beautiful place. There are still some good people in the world. So, don’t lose faith.

Don’t take life so seriously. Being dramatic is kind of a part of teenage-hood, but try to cut it down a little bit for the sake of your own mental health as well as for the sake of your parents. Because it’s not the end of the world if that boy doesn’t like you. It’s okay if you didn’t do so well on that test. Rejection is just one door closing so that another can open. So, when things begin to stir up in your life, know this: It will all work out. You will always find a way.

Let me end with a cliché but very true statement. Life is a roller coaster. So, throw your hands up, smile for the picture and enjoy the ride. Hang in there. You're doing fine.