Dear Clueless Senior Year Me,

If I remember correctly, right around this time I am writing this, you have already graduated. You got to walk across that stage right after enduring hours of speeches (all of which you made fun of with the people sitting beside you). You have a sense of pride, as if you're done, and trust me, you're going to treat your life like you are really done. That may or may not be what bites you in the ass down the road.

Right now you're probably packing for your vacation to Nashville. It's going to be a big trip (and the best graduation present ever) and absolutely change your life. You're going to meet people that will make your heart flutter and have moments you'll remember at such random times, making you tear up just a bit. That's good and I wish you would have remembered those heart melting times in the days that are yet to come.

I know for a fact you are thinking about college but that seems like centuries away. Sadly, it is not and your weak heart is not prepared for the storm that will hit you when you move away. I wish you would spend more time preparing yourself mentally. I wish you would have stood your ground when talking about how you just were not ready for college.

I know you have a very bad feeling about it right now and that group chat you get into with your soon-to-be suitemates is going to seem like it will be all fun and games but sadly, you have been misinformed. Your gut is right about the uneasiness you feel towards college but you never were one to listen to your gut, so, you are going to learn your lesson fast.

I wish you would take more pride in your future dorm room. This is finally a new space that you have free range to start over in. Stop acting like you are too good to make this place your home because guess what, sweetie, it turns into your home whether you like it or not. Most importantly, do not resent everyone else when they call the suite "home" at the beginning of the year. You start to do the same thing by the second semester. It just took you longer to latch on.

I am very proud of you for letting some people go. You never burned any bridges but the people who dragged you and wore you down had to be put on the back burner for a while. That was great of you to do. You kept someone close and the others turned into acquaintances who you have fond memories with. Nothing wrong with that but still brave of you to do.

You may think right now life can't get any better but you will be dragged through the fire when you hit college. You're going to crash and burn and it will take you a long time to find yourself. Heck, as I write this, I still don't know exactly who I am or meant to be. I thought I knew when I was in your position but people happen and people are the cruelest monsters to ever walk the Earth. They will test you and shake you until you can't even look at yourself in the mirror.

That's when something miraculous will happen. You are going to hear an album (but I won't spoil what it is) and you're going to start piecing your confidence back together until you find your voice. This seems ridiculous and you probably think all your troubles are behind you since you did graduate high school but, honey, the worst is yet to come.

I am happy to say, you make it out alive, and I wish I, your future self, was back in your naive, carefree position.