First off, you would never believe it's actually me, so let's start by saying you have a stuffed skunk — toy of course — in the corner of your closet that your grandmother gave you. You still get it out sometimes, you know, when you need to remember the comfort of mac and cheese and Nickelodeon after a hard day at elementary school.
You're 18 now. Three years ago, you didn't think you'd make it this far. You've come so far, and I am so proud of you. But, unfortunately, you still have a long road ahead of you, kid. You just got out of a bad relationship. I know, he was your first love, or so you thought, and he turned out to be a monster. This is something you'll deal with for years, but you will be okay. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you will.
In the next few weeks, reality will smack you in the face. You will begin your time as a tiger at the University of Memphis. The whole "no studying" thing you got away with in high school won't fly anymore. All of those friends you had that moved away? You'll only stay close to one of them. Cherish that one, because she will be there for you when you need it most.
Go to that party, the boy you're there for isn't worth it, but the women you meet there will play the biggest role in your college life. Those women will become your sorority sisters. They'll be there when you laugh, cry, need to vent and eat ice cream out of the gallon, and they'll even stick around that one time you have a little too much to drink (try to avoid that one, if you can. Actually, no... go ahead and take those extra shots. It'll make for a good story).
Wear your letters with pride, be there for your sisters, and always give 110 percent to everything, whether it be a philanthropy event or that project you procrastinated on. Don't worry about trying to "fix" that procrastination problem, you'll just keep putting it off. You're going to change your major, and it will break your heart, but you'll find something you love, and you will be great.
Don't drop out. I know it feels like you just don't belong, but trust me on this one, do not quit. Your daddy didn't raise a quitter, and your momma has spent too much time making sure you have everything you need to be successful. Even if you don't do it for yourself, do it for them, because the look on her face when you tell her you want to quit will break you. It might take one — or seven — major changes, but you'll get there.
You'll find your place in the world, you'll move out, you'll make lifelong friends. You'll meet the man of your dreams — and you'll know it. In fact, you'll joke to your roommate the next day that you "met your future husband" the night before, and you did.
At your young age, you're still a child. You might think you're grown, but you aren't. Do me a favor, and don't try to grow up so fast. I know you had to, with everything that happened, but one day it will all be behind you. Don't spend time worrying over things that don't matter, because now, at 23, you're more worried about the wrinkles starting to pop up on your forehead. Let's not make those any worse, OK?
You're going to be so great. You'll get the internships, you'll balance your schedule, you will make it all work. Looking back, I still can't figure out how we managed to find more than 24 hours in a day, but we did. And now, you are two months away from graduation. Two months away from an accomplishment you, at one point, never thought you would see. You did it, Mar, you did it.
