To 18 year old me,
I'd like to start off by reminding you to breathe. Everything is a whirlwind right now, I know. But it's not going to help anyone if you stress out about it constantly. I know that it seems as though you're supposed to have your life figured out at this point, but you're really not. As much as you hate to admit it, you really are still a kid and you're going to be for a little while longer. The decisions you're making right now are a big deal, but you're allowed to change your mind down the road. It's important to remember that.
Next up, you need to stop letting petty people get to you. You're wasting so much of your energy on pointless drama and it's unhealthy. I understand that it's hard to stay away from it in high school, but I hope you got it out of your system because the friends you make in college aren't going to put up with it.
On a similar note, I also need you to realize that the people in your life right now very well may not be the ones you stay close to for the rest of your life. Appreciate the time you're spending with them now, but know that it's okay to outgrow people. The boy you're "in love with" right now is most likely not the boy you're going to marry. The friends you had in school are probably going to grow into different types of people than you are. That's okay. The people you will meet and get close to throughout the coming years will be the ones who shape you into just the person you want to be.
Also, quit obsessing over boys. At your age, they're just that-- boys. One day, when you're older and wiser, you're going to stop searching for the perfect boy. Soon after that day comes, the perfect man will walk into your life and all of the other "heartbreaks" will seem miniscule.
Finally, you need to stop letting people control you. People's opinions of you really don't matter unless it's a person you genuinely value. You don't have to follow trends or even enjoy doing the same thing your peers are doing. You are your own person and as soon as you realize that you will blossom into the best you that you can be.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have it all figured out yet. I'm still trying to comprehend exactly how this whole life thing works, but I wish someone had told me all of this at your age. It would have saved a lot of stress. I do know one thing for sure: Life is all about becoming a better version of yourself. So ditch any person, thing, or mindset that holds you back from that.
Sincerely,
Future You
