Dear High School Me,
I'm going to start out this letter by saying you will be okay. Just like your favorite song says, "You'll be okay, the sun will rise to better days."
I know things are scary and I know your life is so confusing right now, but you'll figure it out. You're gonna make it to college and you're going to absolutely love it. You'll meet people who are better friends than the people you have known your entire life. Yes, you will be forced out of your comfort zone but you will thrive.
Between losing friends, having your heartbroken by way too many guys and feeling as if school work is burying you alive, I know you are struggling. Please lean on the few friends who have stuck by you instead of building your walls higher. This will only end up hurting you in the long run and forcing away people who could potentially become great friends.
Anxiety and depression seem crippling right now but eventually you will learn to cope. I know that you hate therapy and you never really will grow to like it, but looking back on it you definitely benefit in the long run. Your therapists will frustrate you like no one else can, but they will get you to recognize plenty of problems that you could never pinpoint.
The SAT and ACT will become your worst nightmares in junior year, but getting an average score will still open the door to all eight schools that you apply to. However, you'll still be pretty confused when it comes to which major to declare. Shippensburg is the perfect school for you, even though they have no animal programs. Perhaps later down the road you will find something that involves them to compliment your degree.
The last thing I am going to tell you is that you need to stand up for yourself more. Find your voice and use it, because the sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to find a way to express yourself. Art and writing will become your sanity and they'll keep you from completely losing your way. Please don't listen to those people who try and change your techniques, even if they're the teachers who are supposed to help you grow. Your voice is just starting to show through in the things that you do, but they will easily be silenced by closed minded people.
Be yourself, be strong, be positive and I promise you will make it.
Good luck and much love,
Future You
