But just to make things a tiny bit easier, I figured you could use a heads up and some advice about the years to come. These will help you make it past each day.
First, stop waking up hours early every morning to straighten your hair and do your make up. It’s not worth it. Never once in all of high school will someone decide to become your friend because of the way you look. I’m not telling you to become a complete slob -- just show the world what’s under those five layers of mascara. Don’t waste time trying to be someone you’re not. It’s school, not a beauty pageant. Your acceptance into college will have nothing to do with how many cans of hairspray you use each year or how high you tease your hair.
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. I know that everyone puts off their projects until the very last night and still manages to pull off a B, but the stress of having 12 hours to write a 10-page paper? Easily avoidable. Deadlines are going to rule your life -- better get used to them now. Your study habits will follow you into college, so make them good ones. Don’t put homework off until the class before. When that quiz gets passed out, you will be kicking yourself for not knowing the facts.
“You can never have too many friends.” Yeah, yeah, I know Dad says that all the time, but you want to know why? Because it’s true. Don’t feel like you have to fit in to one certain clique. People are too complex to be placed in a strict, one-dimensional mold. Try to befriend everyone. Each person is valuable and offers a different flavor to your life. You may be missing out on very interesting people if you’re too scared to reach out. Some people walk around high school letting everyone know they don’t trust anyone. Well, I feel sorry for them. They may never know the value of a true friendship. So I say, go ahead and trust away. How else will you know who’s really worth it?
Your heart will be bruised, but never broken. I’m sorry to tell you this, but never in the next four years will you meet and start dating your knight in shining armor or Justin Timberlake. You will waste your time on guys who aren’t worth it, not give the time of day to ones who are and find yourself on both the giving and receiving end of a break up. Alan will teach you that you can’t change people. Corey will teach you that deep feelings don’t go away overnight. Billy will teach you that some people really are better as friends. Tommy will teach you that just because he’s the perfect guy doesn’t mean he’s your perfect guy. Ethan will teach you how to hold your head high because you’re better off without him. And Kameron will teach you that once you stop looking is exactly when you find him.
Never EVER fear humiliation or rejection. Never. I mean it. This is a very important lesson. Go out there and try something new. So what if basketball isn’t your forte? At least you make a great benchwarmer. In high school you are going to give basketball, lacrosse, cheerleading, journalism, theater, Key Club, National Honor Society and more a shot. And let’s be perfectly honest here: you’re not great at them all. You will improvise an embarrassing dance when you forget your routine at cheer tryouts, but the important thing is that you keep dancing. You try. That’s what matters. (And it pays off…you make it!).
You’re going to fall on your face a few times (I mean that both metaphorically and literally because one time, you slip in the rain and your skirt flies up in front of half the school) but you get up. Keep getting up, kiddo.
Your high school experience is going to be much like everyone else’s: filled with great friends, tons of laughter, a sprinkle of tears, a tinge of humiliation and, hopefully, some important academic skills that will carry on to college.
You’ll do great!
Love,
You…just four years later and a whole lot wiser.
P.S. Don’t wear that hideous red dress to sophomore homecoming.
Trust me, you’ll want to burn every picture.