Dear Future Me,

It is currently 9:18 p.m. as we speak. I am sitting at my desk with Brownie by my side, just wondering how you’ve been.

I hope you have become the 4.0 loving student that you were many years ago, before you discovered procrastination and the immersive universe of Netflix. Is The Vampire Diaries still your favorite show? Or have you moved on towards Netflix Originals?

I hope you still enjoy the hobbies you have today. Do you still enjoy the sharp pounding of a needle weaving through cloth? How about badminton? Do you still relish in the feeling of a shuttlecock being hit back and forth?

I hope you’ve held on to the good memories you’ve created throughout high school. Although they didn’t and can’t last forever, I know they’ll always make you happy on the inside and out.

I hope you’ve finally decided what you want to get a degree in. Is it business like the rest of your family? Or are you creating your own path towards another passion? Although you’re convinced that you still have a generous amount of time to think about college, you really don’t.

I hope you still enjoy the most minute things in life, from the feeling of curling up on a cold bed to the pointless, silly inside jokes between you and your friends.

Lastly, I hope that you’re happy with who you are now. Don’t worry too much about life while trying to make perfection a reality. 20 years from now, everything that currently bothers you will be nonexistent. Although you already acknowledge this, you need to engrave it in your life. Hang loose and continue to be yourself; there is a plan for everyone.

– Your 16-year-old self

Dear Past Me,

It’s currently 8:37 p.m. as we speak, and Brownie is yet again by my side. This year has been amazing and the best year of high school so far. I’ve befriended so many loving and caring people and have gotten closer to some my peers. I’m so glad you chose to take classes that actually suited you this year, unlike last year when you were struggling to save your grades. (You are no longer drowning in a pile of studying, homework, and low grades. Congrats!)

A lot of things have changed this year, but don’t worry, most of it was for the better. Weekly sewing sessions have been diminished to monthly ones, and trips to the badminton club no longer exist. In exchange, I’ve been focusing a lot more on school and college application related assignments. Of course, I miss being able to go out with friends and doing hobbies, but I think that it was beneficial to try new things this year and to allow myself contribute to my future too. Netflix is still my good old pal but The Vampire Diaries has been replaced by Riverdale and now I wear too much gray instead of navy.

This year was filled with smiles, accomplishments, failures, and laughs. It has been a physically and mentally draining ride, but I was right, everything folded out perfectly. As for college, I’ll be honest: I don’t even know what I want to do still. Maybe business? Maybe design? Who knows. I still try to not worry about college too much and tell myself that there’s a lot of time left, even when there isn’t in reality. I know within the next few months, I’ll be going through the college application stress.

I’ve grown a lot as a person this year because of the people I am surrounded by. I’m definitely a lot happier and feel grateful to be surrounded by an amazing community at school. Let’s make senior year another good one, and don’t think too much about the future (although I know you will anyways).

Sincerely,

Your no longer 16-year-old self