Dear High School Me,

Freshman year; new environment, a larger crowd, so much more expected out of you. I know you’re scared and I know people will test your trust and your patience, but it’s going to be okay. I know you went through a lot of things that no one should ever have to go through, but do not give up on yourself.

I know people let you down and the bullying is going to make you question your worth, but you are amazing, and those people will be irrelevant soon enough. Do not forget your studies, it is so important for you to focus on your education. I know it’s hard to focus on the good when you’re in the bad, but you need to know you will get past it.

Sophomore year; different groups of ‘friends’, learning the ropes (sort of), branching out. I know you’re confused by the type of people surrounding you, trust that instinct, friendship should not be based on the cool things you do.

I know you’re in your own head right now and don’t understand why your parents do what they do, but I can assure you it is only to protect you. Give your sisters the time of day, they will become your best friends.

I get that you feel so lost, but I promise you it’s only a funk. You can’t give up on yourself. Things happen and people disappointed you when you didn’t think they would. I know the boy you thought cared just stopped, but you are so young. You are going to have so many more heartbreaks and disappointments but each time your standards for love and friendship will only get higher and higher.

Going to parties means nothing if you’re not having fun. Stop doing things to appear as if you’re living a good life. Do the things that make you the happiest.

Junior year; responsibilities, insecurities, getting priorities straight.

I know this year feels so strange but I promise you it is so important for you to make up for the grades you slacked on the previous 2 years. I know you understood this concept and started caring about school, but you need to put in the work.

There are 2 things to know about girls:

1. Girls will do anything to make other girls feel uncomfortable if they’re insecure. Do not let their words bring you down.

2. Girls know damn well what they’re doing no matter how ‘drunk’ they are; friends should never go for a guy you like and if they do, they are not a friend.

Have a backbone, stop being afraid to say how you feel. Give it everything in the sport you love. Do not let a bitter teammate or an immature coach keep you from the glory of the game. It’s easy to get along with someone who has no opinion. You need to be strong and dedicated.

Senior year; college decisions, understanding yourself, school. I know you are giving it everything in school now, but you are going to get mediocre grades sometimes, CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK.

I know having a learning disability may diminish your pride but who the hell cares. Use the extra time to take your tests. If it helps you, you’re winning.

Invite your little sister out with you and your friends, talk to her even if she’s mimicking your every move; because I promise you she looks up to you even if you don’t see it now.

I know you find the most peaceful state of mind when you’re alone listening to music in your room on a Friday night and I know this alone makes you feel so strange and misunderstood because you can’t understand how someone could feel so alone with others but you are so amazing on your own.

This means you need time to yourself and it is completely okay. I promise soon enough you will learn so much about yourself in regards to this.

You are an extroverted introvert.

You are going to love talking to people and making friends but you will need time to regroup and you are going to have odd habits and rituals that you will need to mentally prepare for your day in order to take complete advantage of the day ahead of you, and it is okay.

You wanted to go to that university so bad, I get it, but in a few months from now, you will realize that "everything happens for a reason" and I know you hate that saying so much, but you are going to learn to make the best out of the cards dealt to you.

Do not take this high school experience for granted. I can assure you it will be a bumpy ride, but I can also assure you from every mistake to every letdown, to every person whose path you crossed, to every failure, to everything you tried whether successfully or not, it will leave a mark on you forever.

I can also promise you these years are not the best years of your life, the best is only yet to come, but they'll only be what you make of them.

Trust that you will only continue to grow and become a better version of yourself, you will only learn to understand yourself better and the environment around you. You will find the people who fit best in your life.

Life is full of endless opportunities and these 4 years are not even scratching the surface of the great things in store for you.