High school sucks.
Everyone will tell you that it's a huge bump-up from middle school, and while that may be true, there's a lot of heavy baggage that entails many things you're unfamiliar with - the ACT, the SAT, drugs, peer pressure, college essays, evil teachers, etc. I wish I had had someone to guide me through some of the things that I would experience in high school, someone who would have prevented me from making some of the choices I've made. So, I've decided to appoint myself as Your Super Cool Older Sister a.k.a. Your Real Guidance Counselor.
First things first - preparing for college can start as early or as late as you want it to. Don't think about your friends and how they're preparing because they may be going to a college that doesn't necessarily have the same prerequisites as yours. You've told me many times that your dream school is Princeton and that you want to become a neuroscientist. While it makes me immensely proud of you that you already have a clear-cut goal in mind (and that you love the brain as much as I do), remember that sometimes plans change, and that's completely okay. It's not always about the name or the prestige, which is why it's important to schedule college visits at some point and especially why it's important to research the school in question. Your high school doesn't offer nearly as many AP courses as other schools do, and Mississippi education isn't prime, but don't let that push you away from applying to wherever you want to apply. See if your school offers AP courses online (even though it will be hard to keep up and really understand), and if they don't, that's okay, too. You can make up for it in other aspects, which brings us to our next point.
You'll want to take several extracurriculars, but try not to overload yourself. Colleges like consistency, so pick extracurriculars you could see yourself doing for the next four years (a.k.a. something that you're genuinely interested in because you might be able to write a college essay about it). You're already involved in a couple of service projects, speech & debate, harp, piano, and golf. You'll find that there are times when you're going to hate practicing, when you'll get sick of competing, when you feel like you might explode because of the stress. This is completely okay. Take a deep breath. Set aside your instrument or your golf club or your prose and poetry. Take a break, as long as you need. Your health always comes first, mentally or physically. You're smart and incredibly talented. Your skill won't lessen if you step away for a bit. Come back, try it again.
People are going to try to undermine your success along the way. There are some really hateful people in the world, but don't bother listening to them. Prove them wrong. I can already tell you that you are good enough, that you're going to make yourself legendary. You've got so many amazing things ahead of you; don't listen to those nagging voices (especially your own). All they'll do is hurt you and stop you from reaching high and higher.
When you go to parties, always hold on to your drink or pour yourself a new one. And don't ever let anyone pressure you into doing something that you don't want to. You'll probably hear this in school, but the videos they show you will be distant and not relatable (and more humorous than helpful). If you feel uncomfortable, leave the party. Don't stay around people who claim to be your friends and then try to pressure you into doing something really unhealthy for your body. Your true friends will respect your decision, regardless of what it is.
On that same note, try to have fun throughout high school. Make as many memories as you can with your friends. Take pictures, go on road trips, do all the things you planned you would. Oftentimes, I feel as if the college application process can strip away those precious years that you'll never get back, and while it is important to study as much as you can, I always take to heart the saying, "Work hard, play hard." You'll enter your freshman year of high school and think that graduation is an unreachable stage in your life, but four years can go by in the blink of a second.
You are growing up in a world that is constantly shifting, becoming progressive and then reeling back in the face of ignorance. While I wish it was different for you, we are still in a place where women like us, women of color, still suffer from racism and sexism. This is what I want you to know - you are beautiful. The color of your skin is beautiful, and you are not "exotic", you are not something to be sexualized. Claim yourself. Love yourself. Fight for what you believe is right, fight against what you believe is wrong. Be kind, and love completely, fully. It is better to have loved and loved immensely than to not have loved at all.
And I love you. You will always be my favorite little sister, my favorite person to come home to. I will always be proud of you, whatever happens. I'll be here for you whenever you need me to, regardless of the distance between us.
