Dear 14-year-old self,
Looking back now there’s a lot of things I think you need to know as you finally start your journey into becoming an adult. High School may seem scary now, but I promise it’s not that bad. You won’t get lost on the first day and you will have friends in your classes, but it doesn’t matter they won’t be the friends standing beside you on graduation day. There are a few things that are essential for you to do because you’ll regret it if you don’t.
Make sure you don’t worry so much about what others think of you; their opinions will never mean anything. Don’t be so afraid to try new things and meet new people. Don’t argue with your mom so much in the morning just because you’re both not morning people, you’ll want her waking you up in a few years instead of an ear piercing cell phone alarm. Don’t take a single day of your high school sports practice for granted you’ll miss those mile-long runs so much.
Take as many chances as possible, go and do as much as you can. Attend every basketball and football game; you’ll miss the themed games and synchronized chants. Don’t miss out on family events, your family members don’t live forever only memories do. Try a little harder studying for tests; it’s really not that hard to study fifty notecards a night. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not struggling to figure out good study habits the night before your first test. Keep in mind your high school GPA does matter, it’ll help you get scholarships you really need.
Don’t believe anything boys tell you, ever. Don’t complain so much about your first car; it’s your first car it doesn’t have to be a Benz. Don’t skip so much school; high school isn’t too horrible a lot less horrible than college. Have fun socializing with your friends for eight hours a day, because kiss that goodbye in a few years.
Don’t take advantage of having things bought for you, home-cooked meals and a personal nurse for when you’re sick. Don’t be so self-conscious, anyone cares as much as you do. Don’t chase boys, I promise the boys you’re chasing aren’t as great as you think they are. It’s okay to be a little overweight; it’s okay to have some pimples just wait for puberty to do its job.
Don’t get bangs, though. Seriously, don’t get bangs. Listen more to the news and less to social media gossip, make you correctly informed. Just know the some things and some people simply will not matter in four years. Don’t wish away your days looking forward to the future, live for the now. The future is scary, I must admit but growing up is just something you have to do. So make yourself as happy as possible, and cherish your friends and family. There will be times you think the world is ending and you’re fully prepared to freak out, and that’s okay. Just don’t take anything the smallest things for granted and enjoy the carefree time you still have. Take it from me, it sure goes by fast.
