I want to start out by telling you how great you are. How spectacular and wonderful and beautiful and smart and kind you are. Please do not let anyone tell you any differently. OK, now that we’re past the obvious stuff, I have a few things I want to tell you.
1. Don’t fall for the flirty high school boy
It might seem like a good idea at the time, but I promise you, it’s not. Without even trying, that boy is going to break your heart — more than once. And you’re going to keep letting him. So my advice to you is to not buy into his flirtation. Don’t let him get so into your head that you lay in bed thinking about him all night. Don’t let him destroy you.
2. Don’t try so hard to be popular
I know you see all the girls who wear all Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle, but you aren’t those girls. And that’s OK! It might seem like those girls have their whole lives together and that they’re happier than you’ll ever be, but that’s not true at all. They have their own problems they’re going through. They aren’t any better than you.
3. Don’t stress over grades
I’m not saying grades don’t matter in middle school, but they kind of don’t. Know that this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study for tests or you shouldn’t do your homework, but don’t stress about it. If you get a C in a class, that does not mean you’re going to work at McDonald’s the rest of your life. It means you got a C. And that’s OK.
4. Don’t change yourself for a boy
You’ll like lots of boys throughout your years in middle school. And these boys are going to be cute and funny and nice. But don’t change who you are for them. Don’t pretend you’re failing a class just to ask them to help you. Don’t wear a dress to school even though you know you hate dresses, just because you want a special boy’s attention. Changing yourself isn’t going to make him fall for you.
5. Be happy
You might not have a boyfriend or go to those cool middle school parties every weekend or even have more than a handful of friends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be happy. Look at everything you have and everyone who cares about you. Do things for yourself. Find something that you love, and do that every day. Be kind to others. Love yourself. Be happy.
