A letter from Aug 10, 2024

Dear FutureShm, Hey! So I graduated. Nice. GO C/O 2024 COUGARS! It's been very fun and all, but what comes next? Currently, it is August 10th, 2024 and I am rotting at home. At this time, my car is broken, and has been broken since May. I am sitting here, writing this because I got notified from a yearly reminder that this website exists. I am sitting here, at 4 Am, pondering about what to write, while also getting flooded by thoughts of what could become of me in one singular year. It is easy to look back at yourself a year ago but is incredibly different to look at yourself in a year. Anything can happen in a year. I believe that I want to write this because I simply hope that I am in a more progressive place one year from now. As of how I'm feeling lately, I've been coming to reflect that I am proud of myself; who I am as a person, and my accomplishments- or even a legacy that I have left from High School. I don't want to seem like the type of person who has peaked in high school. I want to flourish and become more outside of that. But how can I do that if I have nothing else to look back onto? High school has genuinely shaped the way I have perceived life. It shaped me. I have had nothing but great memories of the person I was and the people I was surrounded by. What are you doing now? How's photobooth? Did you end up working at Target like you've always wanted.. once your car is fixed lol? In one year, respond to this letter with an update, and what you look forward to pursue in the next year.- On August 10th, 2019, I wrote: "I hope whatever you’re doing is going great. I hope you still become a Journalist as you’ve always wanted when you’ve grown up. If you’ve changed your mind, I respectfully disagree with your mindless decisions of your future. Enjoy 9th grade while it lasts, because it’ll be a short one. Peace"... Five years later, I reply to this for the first time and say that I DO have the same intentions, but with a broader interest! I come to remember the past and think about how great being young(er) was. Then I think that people even come to miss being young at my age, so I should be grateful of who I am and the age I stand with at the moment. I am truly grateful. Though much isn't happening at this moment, while I write this letter in this year, I try to remain humble and grateful of who I am at this moment. Since high school is over, everything is different... and to think- my life is only starting NOW!! How fun! I'm grateful for Morning Announcements. I am so grateful for my high school career. Morning Announcements was the BEST way to express all of my talents- along with emotion. It kept me busy, made me occupied,.. made me feel wanted. I was an amazing output to express the epitome of who I am. I am grateful. I will not be attending college this year. Financial aid isn't working. I am stuck here. I shouldn't complain, of course. There are many others who are living in worse conditions.. But at this moment, is it wrong to think about the direction of my life? I have always spent my life thinking of others. I need to think about my life now. Not in a selfish way, of course, but I should learn how to do things for myself. Who are you in one year from now? At most, I could be overthinking it. But I know for sure much can change- I did become an adult, afterall. I truly want good things for my future. You are the best. You are success. See you in one year :) P.S Your best friend is the best. 🌞 Forever. Oahu trip was beautiful. I'm proud of you. Keep this. Never forget how grateful you are. August 10th, 2024. 4:06 A.M.