During my junior year of high school, my English class was shown George Watsky's "Letter to my 16-year-old self":
This video is something that has stayed with me ever since. As the end of the year often brings about a time of reflection, I thought it would be a good idea to write a letter to my 15-year-old self.
Dear 2012-2013 Anna,
Hey! Congrats on getting your braces off! You may not realize it now, but you look 100 times better without those jail cells on your teeth.
How's that mono going? Yea that really sucks, especially because you essentially sleep through all of your midterms. Word to the wise, study as much as you can now. Oh also, you're gonna get a pretty nasty concussion next year that is going to make you miss six weeks of junior year and the SATs. Do with that as you will.
Anna, I have some bad news for you. I know you're not aware of this in the moment, but you're currently living through your peak. You will never be this skinny, happy, or cool again in your life. Embrace being the only sophomore on varsity tennis. Embrace the fact that the words "common app" are still foreign to you. And most importantly, embrace the amazing friends you are currently surrounded by. Do not, I repeat do not for even one second, take them for granted, because one day it will not all be that way.
Now listen, you sophomoric sophomore (I learned that word when I was 15!!), stop being so damn obnoxious. You are going to learn over the next year or so that the way you think you are so funny and witty isn't actually that cool. It just looks rude and irresponsible. Knock it off. No seriously. No one respects you and no one will until you grow up.
Also, stop writing that stupid acronym on your hand. It is stupid. It is not cool edgy and mysterious. Like you're probably going to get ink poisoning so stop.
And I know you think life is just so hard; you have mono, what's his name won't text you back, the other what's his name won't stop texting you, you aren't as thin as you would like to be (ha!), you feel like you're terrible at everything you do no matter how hard you try, namely chem and you just don't feel super great. You're low-key always on edge and pretending to be something you're not. Just relax. Calm down. It is going to be okay. Be yourself, and all of the other cliches in the book. Just enjoy high school, because I swear one day you give anything to be able to go back to exactly where you're standing right now. I know life isn't perfect and you're not always happy with who you are, but be happy enough. Sometimes that is all we can ask for in life.
And no, the song "Fifteen" was not written about you, so stop with that.
You got this kid, I swear.
Anna
