Growing up, I had two older brothers and a twin sister by my side. When you came along, I was so excited: our family was now complete. Having older brothers is a lot different than having older sisters, but you just got lucky enough to have two of each. I wish I had someone to tell me these things when I was your age, to reassure me when I needed these words of comfort. Here’s to you, my beautiful younger sister.
No one should make you feel small.
You are so bright, so worthy of love and care, and no one should ever tell you otherwise. If someone is competing with you, to the point of belittling you to nothing, they are toxic and you do not deserve that treatment: what they are saying is not true. You are so much better than you think, and no person should make you feel unworthy.
Don’t ever change yourself because someone tells you to.
If a boy tells you he doesn’t like your hair, don’t go to the hair salon and cut it all off, just because he said so. If a girl says she doesn’t like your shoes, don’t throw them away because she is the popular girl and she told you to. Create your own personality, your own style, your own life, and I guarantee that you will be confident. The people who criticized you will be envious of your happiness.
Listen to your heart.
I know you are not there yet, but when it comes time to make huge decisions, don’t let someone else’s decision affect yours. When choosing a college, picture yourself there doing not-so-glamourous things, like studying or doing laundry. If you can’t see yourself happy or comfortable there doing ordinary things, don’t settle for it, just because your best friend is going there. If you want to apply to a reach school, go for it. If you want to explore a new hobby, go for it. Don’t let your realistic mind block the journey to your dreams.
Don’t listen to the mean girls.
In middle school, there are mean girls. In high school, there are mean girls. In college, there are mean girls. They have something to say about everyone they don’t know, and everyone they do. They want to get inside your head; don’t listen to them. They will try to make friends with your best friend: let them. If she allows it, she wasn’t a true friend. They will try to go after your boyfriend: let them. If he allows it, he wasn’t for you. They will attack you and bully you and make you feel like nothing. But you are not nothing, you are so far from nothing, and I promise you, what they say does not matter.
I know high school hurts sometimes, and it seems like a long four years. I promise, I was exactly where you are, and I made it out okay. There were plenty of tears, lots of laughs, and great people that are now by my side. Find your people, let them in, keep your faith and know that I stand behind you, every step of your journey.
