Dear younger self,

I know you may think the world is out to get you right now. I mean, you just got in an argument with your best friend and you failed that important math test. Nothing seems to be going your way. Just wait. One day, you will find yourself surrounded by amazing friends and awesome family. They will be the best support you can get, so use them! Forget about the time you fell too hard for that boy or the time you literally fell and almost broke your wrist. One day, you are going to embarrass yourself in front of your whole softball team when you try to steal home. Remember who your friends are even when you get in a fight with one of them and y’all don’t talk for a few months. During this time remember when you rode that damn camel against your will and you hated every second of it.

One day, you will find yourself being the only kid at home because your brothers are away at school. When you are feeling lonely and getting tired of your parents, think back to the times you guys used to do handstands on the beach during the sunset. Remember the way one of your brothers looked with short hair because now his hair is too long. When you find yourself failing Spanish, look for people to help you study—don’t just let your grades get lower. Don’t be afraid to fail. Academically, you should be slightly afraid, but in life take the chance. Every time you fail you learn something crucial about yourself, like that you really should read the directions all the way through. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. So what if you accidentally called the tripod for a camera a catapult? Now your family has a great inside joke. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you are going to have a hard time seeing the joy in life.

When you find yourself in your senior year, take pictures of everything—from your first day of school, homecoming, senior night, and finally graduation. Take pictures so one day you can show your kids how totally cool you were in high school. Stay up really late just driving around town, laughing with your friends. It is okay to cry when you hug your friends goodbye before you leave for college. Go on a road trip, even if it is just for a day. Conquer your fear of turnpikes by screaming the whole way around it while going 30 miles under the speed limit.

Hang out with your mom when she asks and even when she doesn’t, because you will literally do anything to avoid seeing her cry. Learn more about you dad’s drone building and load up on doctor facts to impress your friends. Try and act interested when your math genius of a brother is talking about equations or when your other brother is going on about building stuff. Always fake enthusiasm when you are taking your family Christmas card.

When you find yourself in college, don’t forget where you came from. Remember the people who raised you up and do act in a way your mother or father would be proud of. Build your life off of the morals you were brought up on. Respect and integrity will get you far. Always say please and thank you and ma’am and sir. You do not have to be the best at everything, you just have to be the best at being you. Lastly, you should never find yourself lost, just keep wandering.

Love,