Wow, it seems just like yesterday I was freaking out about the transition from middle to high school. Now, it's your turn to do the freaking out.
I’ve always pictured you as a baby so much younger than me. I can't even begin to explain how surreal it feels that my baby sibling isn’t a baby anymore and is now entering high school.
The entire summer before I entered the doors as a freshman, I remember feeling so overwhelmed and nervous. Being the oldest, I didn't have a clue on what to expect. I recall feeling weighed down by the fact that I didn’t have that older role model who could truly show me the ropes on what to expect the next four years. Lucky for you, you have an older sibling who loves you with all of their heart and wants nothing more than for you to get the most out of your high school years. If you’re feeling anyway that I felt, I hope that this open letter will serve to comfort and help prepare you for this great adventure that lies in front of you.
"The difference between an ordinary life and an extraordinary life, is that little extra." -Unknown
This world is so much greater than anything you can possibly imagine right now. Dream big, and please do not ever let someone discourage you by saying that your dreams are "too" big. If there ever comes a time that you feel the world doesn't believe in you, know that I do and I hope more than anything that you believe in yourself too. You are capable of absolutely anything you work for. Don't just go through life merely existing, anyone can do that. It's the people who go above and beyond the status quo that are able to wake up each day loving their life and where their hard work got them. Don't sell yourself and your future short by being lazy, work hard and you'll see that you'll be able to play even harder. High school is where it starts.
"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." -Winston Churchill
Know that failure is a given. I know how competitive you are, and I also know how you give everything you do you're all. Unfortunately, even when you put your entire heart into something, failure is still a possibility. That doesn't by any means suggest that you are not good enough, so please don't confuse failure with unworthiness. Whether it be a championship game you played your heart out in and still lost or a class project you worked your butt off on and still didn't receive an "A"... don't let yourself feel too discouraged. Without failure, there is no growth; and high school is a time for growing.
"Continue to share your heart with people, even if it's been broken." - Amy Poehler
You're going to meet someone who knocks you off of your feet and turns your whole world upside down. You'll find yourself loving in ways that you didn't know were possible. If you feel like you have no idea what you're doing, good. That's exactly how everyone felt when they first started dating. No one knows what they're doing at first, you just kind of wing it and learn from it as you go. Maybe it's the innocence and cluelessness that comes along with it, but there is something so unexplainably special about first loves. Don't let peer pressure or what your friends are doing influence the way you love. Do what you feel in your heart to be right, however, don't become too blind to reality. Heartbreak is inevitable in high school. Don't let it change you into a soul full of bitterness. Never forget that feeling of brokenness, and don't go around breaking hearts recklessly. It's going to hurt, and you're going to wonder how on Earth you'll ever love again. But you will, and it will knock you off of your feet and turn your world upside down even harder than the first one. High school is a time you learn to love yourself and others.
"Have faith in how far you can go, but don't forget to enjoy the journey." — Michael Josephson
With adulthood so close you can almost taste it, it's easy to get lost in the thought of the future. College, starting a career, moving out, or whatever it may be, it all is extremely exciting but so is high school. Don't get too wrapped up romanticizing the way things will be four years from now that you don't fully savor this vital time of your life. Go to dances, even if you don't have a date. Hang out with friends, and make irreplaceable memories that only the ones you shared them with will ever be able to understand just how special they were. Don't be afraid of stepping outside of your comfort zone. Try new things. Take a class you know nothing about. Paint up at games and cheer on your classmates. Enjoy every moment and take advantage of all the memories just waiting to be made, high school goes by quicker than you think.
I love you so much and good luck!
