Dear Me,
Hey! It's me. Just thought I'd take the chance to write you a little letter, reminding you of all the great things you have coming up. This letter is also to remind you that you really need to stop worrying about everything. Don't waste the last five months of high school stressing over college, because I can tell you already that your first semester will be nothing short of amazing. Stop wondering if you are going to wind up with a psycho roommate who hates you. You're going to find out soon enough that your roommate will be one of the best friends you have ever had, and I am sure you will be friends for the rest of college and the rest of your lives.
It’s OK that you're only going to school 30 minutes away from home while some people are going so far away that they need to buy plane tickets to come home. The suburbs in New Jersey and the streets of New York City are two completely different worlds, no matter how far apart, and you’ll be so, so glad you decided to attend a college in the city. Also, the Bronx is great. Don't let anyone try and tell you differently.
Worried about a major? You're going to change, anyway, and trust me -- you'll still be OK. Actually, you'll be better than OK. You'll be studying something you love and have loved for as long as you can remember.
The last month of high school is going to fly by. Prom, finals, senior trip, and, of course, graduation. It will be tempting to undermine the significance of the other things in anticipation of graduation, but appreciate all those fun nights and events (even finals) with your friends before you all begin your college lives miles away from home and miles away from each other.
Not to freak you out, but you probably won’t talk to every one of your high school friends every day while you’re away at college. It’s OK, though, because you will still love them and they will still love you with every piece of their hearts. Go out there and take on the world, knowing you have the support of all your friends from home, and of course the family that has never let you down.
When graduation does roll around, make sure you have plenty of tissues. Let yourself cry, but don’t let yourself be too sad. Sure, high school is over, and you are going to miss the people and the town that helped you become the person you are today, but there is so much more waiting for you on the other side. So many nights of laughter and giggling, so many new adventures on the number 1 train and, of course, so many new people who will love you for exactly who you are (after all, they’ll see you before an 8 a.m. lab when you only slept for three hours the night before).
Want to know the best part? One night while you’re sitting in the chapel for Sunday mass, you are going to remember that no matter where you are, God loves you more than anyone has ever loved you before and if you just let Him handle things, everything will work out even better than you could have imagined. Your world is going to change, but don’t be so afraid of change, OK? It can be good. Really good.
Well, I guess I better get going and go back to living my life in the moment. You should try that out sometime -- everything is much sweeter when you live life for what it should be -- exciting, thrilling, and surprising. I’ve reminded you that everything is going to be exceptional, so please start believing it.
All my love,
Me
P.S. Save some of the money that you earn -- NYC is expensive!
