Dear 18-year-old Emily,

Thank God high school is over. I know it wasn’t the easiest four years and it felt like it would never end, but you finally made it. Try to remember the good times, your first real kiss, your senior retreat, making the varsity cheer squad, and having the finest math teacher. I know figuring out what college would be right for you wasn’t easy, but it is going to change you more than you know. You’ve never been away from home for more than a few weeks, but I know how excited you are to be independent and let your OCD take charge in decorating your bedroom. Enjoy your summer, because you are about to start on a new, crazy adventure. Go out on a Tuesday night, attend every football game and go join a sorority. By the way, you’re going to gain 15 pounds, just as a heads up!

I know mom isn’t telling you what to eat anymore, but please, please, please try to stop eating burritos at 4 a.m. on the weekdays. I know they are so delicious but your shorts aren’t going to fit you next year, and when it’s hot out, chub rub is never ideal in Arizona.

Side note: can you please stop wearing those bandage skirts? They do not, will not, and have never looked good on you.

You’re going to meet a boy. He’s the tall kid in your psychology class that is wearing glasses — cute, right? He is going to be your boyfriend in a few months. He is so sweet, and you’re going to be a total idiot and ask if he plays basketball because he is tall; just because he is tall doesn’t mean that he’s an athlete, Em. He thinks the world of you though, and you’re going to fall in love. It is going to be scary and you are going to plan your wedding and life together. This will happen several different times over the years, next will be the short loser who dumps you first. Unfortunately, they aren’t all going to be mutual, you really wear your heart on your sleeve little one, and all the cute guys are the bad ones. Especially those AEPi's.

I know it sounded like the best idea, but living with someone you know was one of your worst decisions. You were so eager to find someone that you know you would get along with that you didn’t give yourself a chance to meet anyone. She is going to be very passive aggressive and make sure you know that your boyfriend is not welcome in the room. By the way, your suitemates are the devil. The three of them actually are going to gang up on you and drive you to sleep on your best friend’s floor. Don’t worry, you joined a sorority that actually cares about you and you get to move into the house with your new friend Sami. You guys end up traveling part of the world together for two weeks. She really turned your freshman year around.

You’re going to pick the most ridiculous major that no one thinks is actually a major, but you actually enjoy going to class for a change. Odd concept I know.

If I told you that being a part of your sorority will be the best thing that will ever happen to you, you wouldn’t believe me. When you go through recruitment, AEPhi will actually be one of your least favorite houses. You don’t even know what you are looking for, but the girls in the recruitment line like to run their mouth and have a whole story for each house. You don’t realize it now, but this was the only house you were actually yourself in. You are going to not only live with, but you will meet your best friends over the next four years. They will know your deepest, darkest secrets. Things you didn’t think anyone could ever possibly understand, they will know. Stay in touch with them please. I know it’s easy to get caught up in life, but they are your backbone, and they held back your hair.

I have to tell you something and I don’t want to because I know how sad you will be, but Dad dies. I don’t know how to say it any other way. They won’t really give you much detail, but it’s going to hit you like a ton of bricks. He called you yesterday and you never got around to calling him back. It is going to be the first day of school, and you get dropped for all your classes for missing two weeks. Don’t worry, mom handles it and you continue on the right track for graduating. Warning: your head will end up in the toilet several times over the next few months. It’s okay to cry though, please remember that. You can’t hold everything in, people love you and are there for you — use them.

I mentioned this earlier, but you are about to live in Italy for four months! You get the most amazing, quaint, beautiful Italian apartment, and you get chubby — I won’t lie to you — but Hannah and Alexxa do as well, so sorry guys. Enjoy it. Eat that extra gelato that day and double fist paninis. When you’re feeling tired and sick, go out. Say sorry for swiping the credit card so much, but you just needed that leather jacket; they’re going to tell you to go for it, anyway.

I just want to let you know when you think you will never feel heartache again and that you can’t possible continue life, it will happen again. I know it is a pain you cannot even explain, but it will happen again. It is still going to happen again. It just happened, again.

Enjoy every single moment because the second you graduate you are going to wish you could do it again, and throwing up on the street corner will no longer be appropriate. You aren’t going to regret much, and the things you do, you learned from, immensely. Congratulations and go kick some ass.

I love you,

25-year-old Emily