I start my senior year of college this week and that thought is quite unreal and sort of scary. It seems like yesterday I was just starting at Tusculum. Actually, it doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was starting high school. At the time, high school seemed so big and like the grandest adventure I had ever taken on. I suppose that at the time it was. Since then, I have had my fair share of adventures and even struggles but they have all made me wiser and better. This article is a few things I would say to the younger me. It isn’t addressed to any particular me – it can apply to myself at 5 years old, 13, or even 18.

First, I would tell my younger self that the world does not revolve around you. And that’s very fortunately so because that would be quite the burden to bear. But the truth is, most people won’t notice you. I don’t mean this to be rude or to say you are insignificant or unworthy of peoples’ attention. I simply mean that no one is going to notice or care if you have a blemish on your face, if you stumble over your words during a presentation, or if your shoes don’t match your shirt perfectly. The fact of the matter is, the world does not rise and set around your problems. Honestly, just give it a little while and those problems won’t even be problems anymore.

I would also tell younger me that it’s important to practice self-love. As long as you never cross the line to conceited or self-absorbed, it’s okay to love yourself. Every day, wake up and tell yourself that you are beautiful both inside and out – whether or not you believe it right away, still say it. You’ll never look like the actress on your television shows or in the magazines you read. It’s just not how it goes, and that is also okay. The images you see online and on screen are not true or real; Photoshop does wonders but I hope you know that you don’t need it.

Younger me would also benefit from knowing that overall, things work out. It’s not an easy ride and it’s not always fun. But to my younger self, I promise you get to all the places you always wanted. As long as you work hard in school, always give 100% in what you do, and keep you faith in God, you’ll be alright. Life is hard sometimes. And to young Chelsey, it’s sometimes a heavy weigh that rests upon your tired shoulders. But I can tell you – at 21 – that it gets lighter and happiness is granted to you. Just hang on, have fun, love yourself, love God, and you’ll end up happier than you could ever imagine. No matter how silly they may seem, always go after your dreams. Always be practical, use common sense, and never take a single moment for granted.

Sometimes I wish I could go back, knowing what I know now, and redo things. But honestly, I wouldn’t redo them because it has all lead me to where I am now. These are all things I would tell my younger self if I had the chance. But I know there’s only one thing that my younger self would tell me now, if she could look forward into the future: I am proud of you.