Letter to Me, Non- Spoiler Edition

Hey Kid,

So it’s your senior year. You are finally the mascot. You have no idea how much that one little thing will change our life. You are involved in everything. And you’ll be shocked when you get to college that none of it really mattered. Cross country never really was your strong suit, but from that you acquired a ridiculous amount of heart that you are going to use later. When you randomly picked up yearbook and newspaper, you found your calling. Yeah sure, you’ll switch your major almost half a dozen times, but ultimately, you’ll go back to what you love.

You are going to go to college out-of-state. Where, will totally surprise you, but keep your expectations low, and your humility high. You will get a scholarship that will push you. It won’t break you. Don’t let it break your spirit. Be kind in everything, and try to get along with everyone no matter how unimportant you may think they are. They could become a huge part of your life.

And some of those people do. Is it unexpected? Sure, but you’ll learn that life is really unexpected. You think that right now you want to get out of this crappy place and everything will be rainbows and butterflies. You know what the words to that song truly are. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies; it’s compromise that moves us along.

So stay loyal to your friends here. They won’t be here forever.  You might fight because they date the wrong boy or girl, but I promise they will come running back to you when that person breaks their heart so stay kind. Share your crazy times at college with them. Invite them over. Go dancing. Go to restaurants and just chat. Just make sure you keep in touch or your summers and your weekends home are going to be really sad and empty.

Naturally, you are bound to feel that way in college too. As much as your parents annoy you, they really do love you. After your first boyfriend, you will understand just how many people love you. It will be difficult and beautiful all in the same breath. You’ll date again. And every single one of them will treat you better than he did.

Right now you are thinking that you will find the boy, or friends, of your dreams in a second. You think you know who you are right now. When you are tossed into a crazy mess of people you want to question that, you will be right back to square one. You lose yourself. You start living for other people. You were too busy trying to prove people wrong that you lost your happiness in the process. So quit the sorority, and don’t worry about making friends. Yes, it is still going to be hard, really really really hard. But you won’t miss it.  

That is because God has His hand on you in a huge way. You are going to stop going to church for a little bit because your friends tell you that is the cool thing to do. Then you’ll go again and get frustrated with religion. Then you will have the most difficult year of your life. You thought high school was bad, but now you don’t have your mom around the corner to give you a hug and kiss when people betray you and boys ruin your reputation.

It’ll happen for sure. You’ll get into messes that leave you with scars. But soon after you’ll meet people that turn your college experience around. They are loving and kind and wonderful. And you won’t even realize how big of a part of your life they are becoming. Lean on those people. They truly want what is best for you. In the end, it really does work out for the better.

Seriously, that year and all the horrible rotten things that happened shape you into who you are today. You back into church and you actually follow God. You are in your Bible sometimes. You want to know what He is saying in your life. God will speak through other people to you. Don’t neglect Him when that happens. Don’t run out of fear. He will bring you through a crazy dark place and put you in a wonderful one. And you had to go through that to trust Him, to see that He is enough, that He is all.

Never forget how beautiful you are, even without makeup or your hair done. If other people can’t see that, then don’t waste your time with them. Focus more on who you are than who or what you are wearing. Look at the inside of people. Get to know their dreams and aspirations. Find a friend that you can tell all of your secrets to. You will. So don’t give up. 

Life is messy. School is pretty easy. Don’t be bitter. Things will work out, just trust in the Lord. You make mistakes, but the right people will look beyond that. Love yourself and do things even if no one else wants to do them with you. Live a life that you will be proud of. And never, ever, ever give up.

Love your future self
Summit High School
Class of 2010