A letter from Jan 17, 2025

Dear FutureMe, Question 1. Events high and low The most exciting was when I went to Dinsey world with my monther and father. I found it a lot of fun because it Dinsey for freaking seak and because me and my family always have a fun time there. The most frightening moment was something I never expected to experience. A couple of days before the Cybertruck exploded, I drove past Trump Tower. At the time, I had no idea that anything of that nature was going to occur, but when it come on the news, it sent chills down my spine, thinking about how close I was to where everything went down. It made me think about how unpredictable that I never know when life can turn downside. The most fulfilling moment of this semester was when I passed my Vietnamese class. It wasn't all easy; a few times, I really had doubts about whether I was going in the right direction. But with all the hard work and effort invested in it, getting that pass felt like an immense achievement. Meanwhile, my Vietnamese class was also related to the most frustrating moment of the year. Early on, I struggled a lot, and once I got a bad grade in the class. It was so discouraging because I had been trying, yet it wasn't paying off, apparently. I remember feeling so angry and like maybe I couldn't pass the class at all. But instead, I didn't give up; I worked harder, asked for help where I needed it, and finally turned things around. Frustration turned into relief and pride by the end of the semester when I finally passed. It was a wild year full of ups and downs; hopefully, next year will be better. Question 2: People Who Mattered Most Not many have made much of a difference in my life, and for that, I am most thankful. They are Mom, Dad, and my best friend, Thomas. Each played a different part in my life, and both certainly made all the difference. Mom has always been the one I can count on, the one I could lean on in times of need. It could be a problem in school, a difficult-to-grasp subject, or just one overwhelming day; she knew precisely what to say. Her serenity and the grounding she has taught me allowed me to get through even the rough days. She taught me how to keep your eyes fixed on what was really important and to press on no matter how impossible the circumstances might seem. I can still recall how Mom would say that the struggle was temporary and my effort would pay off. Just those words have helped more times than I can recall. My dad has been just as vital in yet another way. He taught me to work hard and not to give up. Any time I wanted to quit, he took the time to share with me stories of his trials and how he overcame them. When I hear those stories, it's quite easy to think that I can do anything no matter how tough. He gives me the ability to believe in myself when I don't. He gave me the motivation needed to keep pushing, especially when there was something that I thought I could not do. Then, there is Thomas, my best friend. Among those who bring ease, even to things that seem impossible, he is one. Whenever I was stressed out over school, Thomas would always know how to make me laugh or find a solution. He made even that most unfun thing called studying enjoyable, simply because he was around. All of these people have supported me in their own ways. My mum's calm strength, my dad's inspiring determination, and Thomas's steadfast friendship all helped mold me into the person I am today. They helped me grow, believe in myself, and be able to overcome challenges confidently. This I can never repay them enough for. 3. Biggest Accomplishment One thing I am very proud of is to have passed the eighth grade. Though to many it may not seem much, to me it means so much since it took much hard work and determination on my part. Eighth grade was not easy. There were some difficult classes, and quite several times did I feel like I wouldn't make it through. Of course, I had to work much harder than I had ever done, stayed late into the night studying, and was actually putting all my best effort into ensuring I emerged the best. Of course, there were days when I felt like giving up, but it was never an alternative since I kept reminding myself how important it was to go out there and finish strong. It was one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life to know I had passed. All that stress, those late nights, and all the effort I had invested in it finally paid off. Mom was very delighted and told me how proud she was of me. My dad said he was proud of me, too; this meant much since all I wanted most was to show him that I could live up to what he taught me about working hard. We celebrated with Thomas by playing our favorite video game called 7 Days to Die. Passing the eighth grade was the proof I really needed. If I am going to do something arduous, it's gotta be worth my time, my effort, and everything. It marked the commencement of a whole new journey which was High School-with all its challenges and opportunities, I'm excited about what is coming and ready to take it on since I have learnt the value of hard work and determination. Question 4: What Would I Change About 2024 Were there something I could do differently in 2024, I would start off conquering my procrastination habit: studying at the last minute for tests or quizzes, doing homework due the next day. It always seemed to me there was enough time, yet I would start rushing and stressing out. Sometimes this way, I didn't even have enough time to prepare, and I realize now that must have negatively affected the results of some assignments and tests. If I were to redo 2024, I would start working with a lot of time in hand and break big projects down into smaller, easier pieces. Also, I'd do scheduling or reminders in order for me not to be overwhelmed. Something else I would focus on would be living a healthier lifestyle. In 2024, I did not always make the best food choices. As soon as I got bored or stressed, I would rather munch on junk food than eat well-balanced meals that would give me energy. If I could go back, I would focus on eating more fruits, vegetables, and healthy foods to better take care of my body and mind. Another thing is that I would not sit around as long playing video games. Although I do thoroughly enjoy video gaming, this is too much, and I know I spent way too much time doing that, which I think could be used for other, more constructive things, like studying, reviewing notes, or even just being outside being more active. If I had to do it over again, this year, I would also do a lot about my grades. I know that I could have done better, even though I did all right. I know most of those Bs could have been As if I had only been paying attention and not wasting so much time. From where I am now, looking back, I can see it was procrastination and playing way too much that brought me down. I would have spent my time in a better way, studying more for quizzes and tests and on projects, therefore I would have been much more confident in the quality of work which I submitted. Getting good grades is not about impressing people; it's about knowing that I've done my best and attained what I'm capable of. Lastly, I would manage my time better in general. There were plenty of times when, in 2024, I was doing stuff that was fun in the heat of the moment, but afterwards completely useless to help further on. If I could go back, I'd work harder on building good life habits, such as studying regularly, being more active, and eating healthier. It's those small changes that would have made an enormous difference and would have benefited me for the future, too. If I had done these changes, I would probably feel like I did something more useful by the end of this year. I'd be feeling healthier, more confident, and proud of what I would've done, knowing I put in the effort toward taking every little bit of time into count. Question 5: Accomplishments Question 5: Personal, Academic, Athletic, Musical, Artistic, Spiritual, and Social Goals Looking ahead to next year, I have a few goals in different areas of my life. These goals aren’t just about improving but also about pushing myself to grow and make the most of my time. Academically, I want to finish the year with a 3.5 GPA or higher. I especially want to get an A in math and English because they’re my core classes and important for my future. I’ve always been decent at these subjects, but I know I can do even better if I put in a little extra effort. My plan is to stay on top of my homework, study earlier for tests, and focus during class so I’m always prepared. I’ll also ask questions when I need to and use tools like study guides or extra practice to make sure I stay ahead. Athletically, I want to get more active by doing track and field. I’ve always thought it would be fun to compete and push myself physically, so this feels like the right time to give it a try. Along with that, I plan to exercise more regularly—whether it’s running, or even walking—to stay in shape and feel stronger. Being active will also help me stay focused and energized for everything else I want to accomplish. Musically, my goal is to find a better balance. I love music, and it’s a big part of my day, but I’ve noticed it can sometimes distract me when I’m working. To fix that, I want to save my music time for breaks or after I finish my work. That way, I can stay focused while I’m studying or doing homework and still enjoy music without it getting in the way. Artistically, I want to explore some creative hobbies for fun. I’m not planning to become an artist or anything, but I think doing small creative things—like doodling or journaling—could be a good way to relax and express myself. I might even try something new like learning to sketch or take cool photos just for fun. Spiritually, I want to grow closer to God and strengthen my faith. I’ve realized that being connected to my faith helps me feel more grounded and positive, so I want to make more time for it. My plan is to pray more often and read the Bible I also want to be more mindful of how I live my life and make choices that align with my beliefs. Socially, I’d like to get to know more people in my classes and maybe make a few new friends. I tend to stick to the same group, but I think it would be cool to branch out and talk to others more often. Whether it’s joining group activities or just saying hi to people I don’t usually talk to, I want to step out of my comfort zone a bit. Building new connections is always a good thing, and I’m excited to see where it leads. Question 6: Predictions for Myself, My Family and Sports For 2025, I do have a number of predictions as to what will happen regarding me, my family, and even with sports. This is how the year should pan out, I think. I think this is going to be a big year for personal growth and reaching some important goals. First, I really feel that on my birthday, I am finally going to get a PC, which I have been asking for a while. Having a PC is going to be amazing because it's going to make doing homework so much easier and also introduce new things to learn about, such as graphic design, editing, and even programming. Of course, I'll be able to use it to play games too! These are my two big academically-based goals: get an A in biology and an A in math. Both are core classes, and I've been working harder in those subjects. Putting extra time into assignments and studying is what I believe will make a big difference. Apart from that, another prediction which really excites me is that I will travel to Canada for the first time. This will be my maiden voyage outside of my country, and I am dying to see how things are across the border. People always say great things about Canada: its pretty sceneries, mouth-watering food, and very friendly people. I just want to try new food, go to new places, and learn more about their culture. This year is going to be full of opportunities to learn and grow and quite entertaining too. I am ready for the challenge and to make the most out of it! Question 7 Promises One promise I want to make to myself is to join track and field. Ever since I became really interested in sports, I think that would be an amazing way to keep active and out of my comfort zone. In preparation for this, I'll try as much as I can to keep my grades up since my parents will only allow me to join anything only when I am in their good books at school. This means staying on top of homework and studying for tests so I don't let good grades slip away. I promise to try not to have any late work. Sometimes I know I get really lazy, which causes procrastination. And honestly, it is just stressful leaving all the assignments until the last minute. So I won't let that happen, I would stay organized and keep track of all my deadlines. By getting better time management and making everything on time, I'd be able to keep my grade up and make the promise consistent. A third promise I want to attempt is spending less than six hours a week with my phone. I know how easily distracted I get; thus, by not giving in to overusing the screen, my focus on the other important parts of life will greatly improve. For this, I will keep a regular check on phone usage. At the same time as promising, I recognize that probably all of us once slips up or doesn't follow these rules one way or another. But I’ll keep pushing to do better and get on the right track. Question 8 One wish I think I could have for the world is that all people everywhere should live safely, no day or night trembling with fear from bad acts or super bad acts. I just wish at night, not everybody had to sleep while being afraid of their tomorrow. I also wish people could go outside without wondering how they were going to come up with enough money to feed their families. No human being should have to struggle with whether or not their loved ones will have enough to eat, or if they are going to be okay. I also wish that everyone was given the opportunity for an education. Whosoever, regardless of background or place of origin, stands equal in opportunities for school and learning. Education changes lives; it should not become a privilege granted to the few only. If only we can be certain that people are not compelled to struggle just to have these scant human rights, it would be wonderful to live on this earth.