Everything's pretty hard right now, isn't it? You're under a lot of pressure for being just 15 years old. But I wish I knew at that age what I know now.
You know that boy you're in love with right now? The one with the nice hair and the gorgeous smile...and has spoken a whole three words to you since you've been in high school? It's OK that he doesn't like you back. Five years from now you won't even remember his name. OK, maybe you will if you really think about, but you certainly won't remember what you thought was so great about him. But you're not really in love with him. He's cute and you like the idea of him and the idea of having a boyfriend. Real love goes beyond those surface attractions and it's not just a one-way street. Someday soon you'll meet a guy who makes you feel like the luckiest girl in the world. You'll fall in love with his laugh and the way he says your name...and he'll feel the same way about you. You're first real love is still yet to come.
Your parents are actually pretty smart. They had a whole life before they had you and there's a lot you can learn from them. Your dad might not be the best at talking to a teenage girl, but he does love you. Everything he does is for you. Your mom went through the same things you did. Yeah, it was a different time, but at the core, her problems were the same as yours. Let her into your life; don't shut her out. As cliched as it sounds, your parents really just want what's best for you. They might be a little invasive or overprotective sometimes...but it really is just because they love you. Seriously.
It really is OK that you failed your biology quiz. Or your English test. Or forgot part of your speech. You're still smart, you're still a good student,and you're still going to get into a good college. Five years from now, you really won't remember each grade you got in high school. Test scores don't define you. Don't listen to anyone that says they do. Even the girl who sits two seats behind you and brags about every A she gets. Speaking of her...
After you graduate, you're not going to "K.I.T." with about 90 percent of these people. Some will be by conscious choice because you can't wait to get rid of them, and others will slowly drift out of your life. You'll still hold on to your few core people if you put in the effort, but it's hard to stay close to everyone when you don't see each other every single day. And that's OK. That's what memories are for, so make them while you can.
You know how everyone keeps asking what you're going to do with the rest of your life? It's OK to not know. Even if you think you do know, you probably don't. You can't even drive yet, so how are you supposed to make the most important decisions of your life? Look at colleges, think about majors, consider careers...but there's no rush. Explore your options, dream big. High school graduation is not a deadline -- you still have the rest of your life ahead of you.
