Dear 16-Year-Old Me,

First of all, let me tell you that I really liked the idea of writing this, but now that I'm actually doing it, it seems kind of weird. Of course people think you're crazy when you talk to yourself, so I guess this is no different.

I'm writing this today because a lot has changed over the past four years and I feel like I know a lot of things now that I wish I knew back then.

Cherish high school.

Those four years might seem long at first, but I can promise you that they go by fast. Before you know it you'll be walking across that stage with your diploma in your hand, surrounded by everyone you've spent the last 18 years getting to know. It may seem stupid to you now, but one day you'll look back and realize how much you miss those Friday night football games, all the school dances and maybe even a teacher or two who helped shape you into the person you are today.

Thank your parents.

I'm not just talking about thanking them when they buy you that new shirt you wanted. Thank them for all the small things they do for you on a daily basis like cleaning your room, doing your laundry and bringing you home food when you text them that you're starving. They do more for you than you realize and one day you're not going to have someone there who will willing fold all your clothes and separate them into organized piles for you.

Save your money.

At this moment it might not seem like a big deal just throwing a few bucks here and there for food or clothes, but when you get to college you're going to wish you didn't drop $100 on a shopping spree and put it in your savings account instead. Trust me.

Take every opportunity you can.

Join that extracurricular activity, go hangout with your friends even if you really wanted to stay in bed and binge Netflix and say yes to that date. You don't want to look back on your high school years and regret not doing something.

Don't be in a hurry to grow up.

Being a grown up sucks. Don't get me wrong, having freedom and control over what you do with your life is really nice and all, but there's much more to it than that. You now have to pay your own bills, worry about getting a big kid job, figure out how to live on your own and it's no longer socially acceptable to sleep till one in the afternoon.

Make sure to take a step back and enjoy your life as it is in this very moment. Your friends aren't always going to live five minutes down the street, not having a date for prom will seem silly compared to the problems you'll end up facing and the things you've grown up knowing your whole life will inevitably change. So stop and smell the roses, or whatever other cliché saying you want, because things are about to change big time