An Open Letter to My Younger Self
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

An Open Letter to My Younger Self

Every teenage girl needs to hear these 7 things.

37
An Open Letter to My Younger Self
Everypixel

The teenage years, especially about 13-16, are frankly chaotic for most young people. You're busy figuring out who you are while simultaneously trying to navigate school, relationships, and a complicated social atmosphere. Here are some things I wish I could go back and tell myself during these years, and that I wish every young teen girl could hear.

Be confident about your niche interests.

I once spent an entire day creating a phylogenetic tree, taping together sheets of paper and painstakingly labeling every single domain, kingdom, phylum, and class. I spent a different day listening to every one of Angela Davis's speeches that has been recorded. On another occasion, I swabbed different areas of my house onto petri dishes, because I was curious to see which had the most bacteria growth. Yes, really. I could list every strange endeavor, but the point is that if your hobbies are as odd as mine, there's no shame. Do what you enjoy. People who are true friends will support all your peculiar interests.

You are inherently worthy. 

I'm tired of a woman's worth being justified by saying, "She's someone's daughter," or anything of the type. While this is true, you are worthy all on your own. You are deserving of respect, autonomy, and unconditional love. Don't forget that!

Your friend group might not last.

Most people are all too familiar with this fact of life. The friends you had in middle school likely aren't your best friends now. Sometimes a friendship will end with an argument of a fundamental difference, and sometimes you will just change and grow apart. Every friend group that I'm no longer a part of helped me realize what I was (or wasn't) looking for in a friend. There are no hard feelings, it's a part of growing up.

Take care of your body and mind.

While you are navigating teenage life, it might be hard to find time to take care of yourself, but this one is non-negotiable. When your mental health suffers, reach out. And most importantly, when you're hungry, eat! You need to eat even when you don't like how your body looks. You can't save the world on an empty stomach.

Dating doesn't have to be a priority in your life at this point.

There's so much pressure for young people to be in a relationship, but I'm here to tell you that it's totally okay to not be. On the other hand, dating as this age can be fun, so go for it if you enjoy it! Go on dates with all kinds of people, and learn what kind of people are best for you. There's no shame in either option.

Don't feel like you need to prove yourself to anyone.

In middle school, I was embarrassed to get below a 95% on my report card. I wasn't satisfied with less than an A+ on any test or assignment. Honestly, I don't know who I doing that for. Although your parents have expectations that you may need to meet at this point in your life, you should do things for yourself as much as possible. If getting good grades makes you feel great, go for it! But you don't need to prove to your peers that you're smart. It's okay to slip up sometimes, and anyone who makes you feel bad about that isn't worth it.

You teach people how they're allowed to treat you.

This goes for romantic partners, friends, and everyone you encounter. You don't need to tolerate anyone treating you poorly. This will only show them that you're okay with being treated this way. Unfortunately, some people will treat you poorly no matter what, so in no way am I placing blame on anyone who ends up in an abusive relationship.

To every girl reading this, remember that you will always have yourself - your worthy, unique, authentic self. When you love yourself, you are unstoppable, and you will be able to go ahead and make your positive impact on the world.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70863
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132455
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments