Hey, Danielle, how are you doing? How are you feeling? How was your day?

It's me, Danielle. An older, wiser version of you that I hope you would be proud of. I'm writing to you from the future to say all of the things you should have heard when you were younger, but never really did. Or maybe someone did tell you these things, but you did not listen, feeling like no one understood you, only that they thought they did.

You're 15 and the world seems like a terrifying place. Just entered your sophomore year of high school, just discovered the punk music you will come to love more than whatever is played on the radio that you once thought was so great. Believe me, you'll come to love the bands that many of your friends will think are "too edgy" to listen to. Believe me when I say that, someday, you'll find a fascination with bands a LOT edgier than Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. You'll still love the latter just as much, though.

You'll look back on sophomore year of high school and see that what used to matter so much, what used to get under your skin and torture you day to day, means nothing. Those people who bothered you will disappear shortly enough, and you'll barely remember their names, let alone their faces. That quiz on balancing equations you failed in chemistry will still haunt you, but now it seems so insignificant from when you stared down at the grade in abject horror, as if the world itself was spun on off its hinges and cracked down the middle. The world did not end, and you will still make it to college. Just breathe.

Understand that you have a great support system. Your parents, your friends. They love you a lot, and care about you more than you can understand. They want to see you succeed, just as much as you want them to. The friends you have now are good ones, and they'll stick with you through it all. Keep them close, treasure them, love them.

Believe me when I say that the world is a scary place, but you are strong enough and smart enough to see yourself through. You have a place in this world as much as anyone else, and do not deny yourself the pleasures in life. Laugh loudly, no matter who might be watching - they do not matter. Love your friends and family, do not let them go. Be open to new experiences, you'll just have to see what will come from stepping out of the safety bubble you love to put yourself in.

There are good things on the way, I've been through them. There are also some moments where reality itself feels like it's spinning and you are not sure what is up and what is down anymore. I've been through those times as well, and you can do it.

19 years and we've been through a lot. So who's to say that we cannot do anything. Danielle, we've got this. Life just has to prepare itself for us at this point because we're ready.