Happy 21st

Dear FutureMe, Hey, happy 21st birthday. Such a big and intimidating number now, huh? It feels like not much time has passed since I first wrote you a letter here for your 18th birthday. I was 17 at the time, and I was deathly afraid of going to senior high school, but it all turned out well, don’t you think? It hadn’t been easy, that’s for sure. But despite the uncertainties and obstacles that came our way, we still made it this far. So just in case you forget again, take this as a reminder to not be so hard on yourself. As you read this, think back to this exact time. Things haven’t been exactly well these past few months, as you might remember. In fact, most times I still find myself feeling the same way I did when I was 17. I am still just as afraid, and just as lost, if not more. The only difference is that, well, I am 3 years older now. And I am about to go through one of the biggest transitions in my life. Just like when I was 17, I am about to start all over again. New school. New people. New teachers. New environment. New routine. Everything will be different and that scares me a lot. The only consolation I have is the thought that I managed to do it before even when I had been so afraid, so maybe this time I can do it all over again. So tell me, how are you now? How’s college? Have you made new friends? How did chemistry go? Is this still what you want to do? There are so many questions I can’t wait to get the answers to. I’m not expecting you to have everything figured out, just that you have adjusted and already found your footing; and even if things won’t go exactly the way I would like it to, don’t beat yourself up over it. I know I’m usually not one you’d call positive or optimistic but there’s really a part of me that believes that this is truly where I am meant to be. I am trying to live by these advices but it’s been hard so just in case you haven’t yet, please stop wasting your time worrying over things you can’t control. Don’t waste any more of your youth. Don’t let life pass you by. Always remind yourself that you’ve done it before, you’ve overcome things you thought were once impossible, and you’ve managed to show up despite your fears. There’s nothing stopping you from doing it all over again. Keep showing up. Keep trying. Believe the people who believe in you. Sincerely, your 20 year old self