So I am a few years ahead of where you are now.

I've experienced a few different types of heartache, I've realized some different things, my personality has changed, and honestly, I am not you anymore.

Despite the fact that I feel like I haven't grown up at all, I have grown up way more than I could ever imagine.

I have figured out that when I was in your shoes I really thought about myself more than I care to admit and that's how I really realized that I am not you anymore. Because before I start driving with my friends in the care I glance around to make sure everyone is buckled. When I am about to cross the street with other people I look both ways three times.

I've grown up in the fact that school doesn't just come naturally anymore. I put more effort into knowing what I am taught than I ever had to when I was you. I write down all the things I hear in class because I know that it probably won't be made available to me at any other point.

My future is currently my present whereas when I was you my current present seemed a million lifetimes away. I've had to make decisions that won't just affect me, but also all the people who aren't in my life but might be ten years from now.

The hardest part of where I am now is that every choice I make could affect so many people. I have to think about a potential spouse, my kids, their kids, everyone. I have to think about how far away I will be from my parents as they get older and that's the exact opposite of what I thought about in high school.

You see, when I was you I made my choices off of how far away I could get from my parents. Where I might have a better chance at getting plugged in or even finding a husband - even though I truly do hate to admit it.

When I was you, what I did was for me and not for my future and guess what - that is okay. Since I made those choices for me, I know now how to make choices that can improve the lives of others. I made selfish choices and sometimes those choices were wrong, but I had to learn that on my own.

As much as I hate to admit it, a lot of the choices I made when I was you were wrong, but thankfully the path I was taking overall was right. That is the lesson I needed to learn - as long as I am on the right path the choices I make will always be right, even if they cause me to take a few extra steps.

I hope that as you grow up and get to where I am now life gets a little simpler, the things you need to do become clearer, and you learn to accept where you are because we all know you just want the next best thing.