Hey cute little high school me,

I'm getting ready to take my first set of finals here in college, and I was doing some reflecting on how much has changed since getting ready for my first finals week in high school. Wow, has a lot changed.

Congrats on passing your Algebra final! That class was actual death, but you did it! Sure an 87% isn't an A, but it's way better than what some kids got. All those hours of studying to make sure you got a grade to keep you in the B range really paid off. English went by with a breeze. I know honors English was rough, but English was your favorite subject. I'm not going to lie to you, it still is. There are no vocab books in college, but that doesn't mean you can stop caring about your vocab homework. Knowing big words will prove to be very useful in these next few years. I know that you really did not want to be in intro to law with the kids that were in that class, but she eventually graded the mock trial final and you got a 98%! She said you did such a good job and she was only grading individually in the first place. What I really want to know is what was going through your head when getting ready for Spanish. That class should have been an easy A, but I mean, nothing you can do about it now. Honestly, thank you so much for doing well in photography. I'm sitting here with my film camera and I still love photography to this day.

Since freshman year, you've quit cheer and dance for good. That part of life, while it was fun, was exhausting. You didn't give up competing, though. You found a new home in the speech and debate community and you're still going at it. The friends you think you have right now, won't even hold a match to the friends you will have on the team. I guarantee you, debate will forever be the best thing that could have happened in your life. The scholarship that comes from being in speech and debate will prove to be very useful. There are so many random things you know off the top of your head that will always be helpful.

I know this year wasn't easy. Next semester is going to bring some of the most trying times of your life. I know for a fact that you aren't looking forward to surgery in February, but you will get through it! A few days in the hospital means nothing to the happiness that comes after. Sure it was scary being cooped up in a room with needles in your arm for about four straight days, but you did so well after. I'm warning you now. After senior year, you have to do it all over again but it goes way better this time. Recovering at home is way better than in the hospital.

I know you feel like you have to balance everything right now, but let me tell you. It doesn't matter how cool you were (or weren't) in high school when you get to college. You end up making some of the best friends you can and will ever have at GCU and you really won't be able to see yourself anywhere else.

So congratulations in advance. You make it all the way and I can't be more proud of who you are today.

All my love,

Your loving college self