Hey there, handsome,

It's me (well...you, technically), but like, from the future. Please listen up. You're about to start a very important part of your life, so I just thought I'd write to you to impart some much-needed wisdom--the kind of wisdom I hoped future me would have sent past me when I was a freshman (as you are now). So, sit down with your favorite cup and fill it with some matcha tea (you don't drink it yet, but trust me on this one, you will) and just take in what I have to say.

First of all, I'll just say right out of the gate that Duluth is going to be hard for you. The University of Minnesota campus there is wonderful and so are the people who attend and teach, but you're going to realize soon enough that you belong in the Twin Cities. You're going to figure out that it's okay to not pursue a prototypical STEM degree, that it's okay that you don't make any close friends in your first year, that it's okay that you hate the idea of partying on a Friday night even though everyone else seems to do it. Ultimately, you're going to figure out that you belong at home with your friends, your family and your most of all...your car. Until then, it's going to be one of the hardest things you'll go through.

Transferring to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities will be the best thing you do your whole academic career because it's going to shift your mindset from forcing a social life to focusing on your future. Minneapolis and St. Paul will not disappoint either. You're going to major in technical communication (it's okay, you'll learn what that means later) and you're going to realize that you really like it and that you're really good at it. I know you'll be upset about not doing art as a career, but you'll realize it'll make a great hobby. You're going to work hard to distinguish yourself as a professional and land some amazing jobs. I'm making triple what you made per hour at that tiring warehouse job you had last summer thanks to your tireless ambition. Besides school and work, you'll grow as a person, too.

The depression and the anxiety will go away. It'll be so hard for you, but please know that it will go away and it will be all thanks to your hard work. You're going to change your mindset and that's going to open so many new doors for you. You're going to open yourself up and be more comfortable with your effeminate side and really let yourself feel emotions. This is going to help you overcome your residual numbness from freshman year. You're going to fall in love with a beautiful woman who is much stronger than you but still depends on you for support in all kinds of ways. She's going to treat you so well and make you look forward to every single day. Look at all of these things you have to look forward to.

You are a wonderful and smart person. There are going to be moments that are coming really soon where you'll doubt this and you'll really take it out on yourself and your decisions, but I will tell you that you'll make good on those mistakes and turn into someone who is stronger for them.

Hang in there. It'll be worth it, I promise.

Sincerely,

Methas