To The Freshman In High School,
1. DO NOT worry about being the prettiest girl in school. Do not be afraid to wear your hair up in a ponytail, or skip out on the eye makeup; I guarantee no one will notice the difference. You are naturally beautiful: flaunt in.
2. The seniors are not going to laugh at you if you are at the lunch table alone for 5 minutes.
3. Go to the football games. And the volleyball games. And the pep rallies. And the spring play. And the chorus concert. Support your peers and make memories, you will not regret it.
4. Do your best in your classes. It is not “cool” to fail and is not “nerdy” to get straight A’s. In four years when you are applying to college, you will be thankful that you did not slack your freshman year.
5. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SMOKE OR DRINK TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
6. It is okay to skip a sleepover or a party with your friends to catch up on your sleep or spend time with your mom, there is always next weekend.
7. And if you do go out, come home and say goodnight to your mom, you will miss her hugs when you are away in college.
8. Say thank you to the janitor.
9.It is normal to fight with your best friends. But if you find that they hurt you more than they support you, find the strength to walk away from the toxicity.
10. You might never stop loving him- but you WILL get over him.
11. Stand up for what you believe in.
12. Use a condom. Every time.
13. Dance with the kid who is sitting alone at prom.
14. Fall in love with some sort of physical activity: running, a sport, hiking, lifting. Relieve your stress with exercise.
15. Be a good listener.
16. Friends before boys. Always,
17. Join at least one club.
18. Fall in love. With your friends, with boys, your classes, your town, your school, your life. You only get four years here: make it last.
Love,
A nostalgic college freshman.
