A letter from Feb 09, 2025

Dear Future Me, Right now, you’ve just been accepted into Carnegie Mellon University, and honestly, you have no concrete plans for your college experience. That’s okay. But as I sit here, I do have a few questions and worries that I hope you’ve figured out by now. You’re a Black girl going to a school where only about 4% of students are Black—not even counting the percentage of Black women. I know you’re worried about finding a community, and I hope you’ve found people who make you feel seen and understood. If you have, I’m so happy for you. If you haven’t, I hope you’ve realized that you are enough on your own and that you can create spaces for yourself where you feel comfortable. How’s the living situation? By the time you read this, you should be finishing your first semester or in the middle of your second. Do you have friends? I know how shy you are when it comes to meeting new people, but you also love social settings and meaningful interactions. I really hope you’ve put yourself out there and found people who make college feel like home. But if not, that’s okay too—happiness isn’t dependent on other people. I just hope you feel fulfilled, no matter what. Now onto your personal life—let’s be real, you always wanted that classic high school romance, but it didn’t happen. Has college brought anyone special into your life? Have you met someone who makes your heart race, or are you still figuring things out? Either way, I hope you’re enjoying the experience, whether it’s love, friendships, or just personal growth. What about your future? Right now, I’m leaning toward getting a PhD, but have things changed? Have you found a new passion, or are you still on the same path? No matter what, I trust that you’re making the best decisions for yourself. Are you still running your K-pop editing account? Right now, you have 670 followers, and you’re posting twice a week. Have you kept it up, or has college made it harder to balance? Whether you’ve grown your account or moved on to something else, I hope you’re still doing things that bring you joy. Also, what’s going on with the bioengineering lab? Even though you don’t plan on majoring in engineering, you’re working there now, and I wonder—are you still involved? Have you built connections with the undergrads and researchers there? Networking is something you always wanted to improve on, so I hope you’ve been able to build relationships that will help you in the future. And Pittsburgh—have you finally explored the city? You’ve lived there all your life, but you haven’t really experienced it the way you want to. Have you checked out new cafes, museums, or hidden spots around the city? I hope you’ve taken the time to enjoy your surroundings and make some good memories outside of school. Most importantly, no matter what has happened, I want you to remember this: You’ve made it this far, and you’ll keep going. College is going to have its ups and downs, but just like in high school, you’ll push through and come out stronger. You’ve always been resilient, and I have no doubt that you’ll continue to be. No matter where life takes us, we will find moments of happiness. I’m rooting for you. With love, Your Past Self