A letter from Jan 9th, 2022

Dear FutureMe, When you read this, I hope you've forgotten all about this letter. You may have forgotten all about this life, too, because I'm sure things will be very different. Right now, all I can think about are college apps, academics, senior year, everything on my plate... was it worth it? What college are you at? I'm still writing my USC app this week, but I just want it to be over. I'm not even wishing I could be out of high school right now, I just wish I could enjoy things in the moment, because 4 years from now, this moment will be just a memory. You'll be receiving this on June 1, 2026, your 22nd birthday, and a date pretty close to when you may be graduating college. No matter where you are, I hope you're happy. I'm still under the impression that if I genuinely care about what I'm doing, genuinely invest myself in the world around me, that I'll be happy. Is that really true? By now, I'm not going to jinx it, but knowing you, you'll probably have most of life planned out. To some extent. I'm thinking about it all so much now that I hope it's easy to navigate. You'll have a job and a great career ahead of you, and hopefully a dog too. I know just how uncertain it all is today, but I trust the future to help me find my way. Right now, the stress in my life is remedied by my friends. I hope you stay in touch with all of them. It's the boba runs, the K-pop, the Roblox that gives me the energy to keep being myself. One of my greatest fears is that by now you'll have lost that part of you that makes you unique, but I know that's only just a fear. You'll still have who I am today inside of you 4 years from now, so I have nothing to worry about. See you soon, Your 17-year-old self