for high school me

Dear high school me,

You are enough, and you are freaking awesome. The number of lunches eaten in the library alone do not determine the number of people who love you wholeheartedly. Do not worry about things so much, your ten year plan will happen regardless of if you stress about it or not. Just start living life. You will get accepted to colleges, don’t cry over the ones you didn’t get accepted to; triumph in the ones you did. Love yourself, date yourself, take care of yourself, and figure out exactly what you stand for. Pray about what you want in life and know it’s okay to walk away from people who won’t help you get there. Eat that extra serving of ice cream, you deserve it. Kiss all the boys if you want to, or don’t kiss any at all; the number of people you’ve kissed does not indicate your character or self-worth. Fall in love and don’t look back, take each heartbreak and become stronger. Having a man does not make you strong and not having a man does not make you weak. Keep working hard and saving your dollars, you’ll be glad you did when you’re in college trying to buy five hundred dollars’ worth of textbooks each semester. Thank your parents every day, for everything, they make every life decision for your well being. Only surround yourself with the best of friends, the ones that don’t treat you kind are not worth your time. Strive to live life as Christ like as possible every day, be kind and service oriented, put others before yourself. Don’t be afraid to laugh in inappropriate situations every once in a while, and don’t ever grow up all the way. Please do not ever let a boy call you crazy, it’s okay to want to pee on his car when he breaks your heart…just do not actually pee on his car and if you do, don’t let him know. Sing Taylor Swift all the day long, dance in public, and wear insanely bright lipstick however often you please. Don’t worry if you sometimes cry in places one would not normally want to cry in. Spend as much time with your family as humanely possible, they are in your corner forever. Follow your dreams; open a bakery, go to grad school, live in New York City, and do not under any circumstances give up. Life is amazing, it’s hard and cruel and rude and restless and humbling, but you have one life, live it how you want.