Dear High School Self,

I know I can’t go back in time, and I can’t change the past. And for many reasons I wouldn’t want to because the past has made me who I am today. But despite that, there are things that I wish I knew that maybe could have made my high school years a little better, a little brighter. Here is my advice, the things I wish I knew.

My first piece of advice is to have fun. It sounds stupid and cliché, but you really only live once. Yes, school work and all those other obligations are important, but you need to make time to enjoy yourself. Trust me, down the road you will not remember the nights you stayed in or the grades you got in math class. But you will remember the time you spent with your friends. Don’t get so wrapped up in the future or the past that you can’t enjoy yourself in the moment. This may seem like an impossible feat, but it's worth it in the end.

Secondly, try to remember what is really important in life. In the day to day it's easy to get caught up and lose sight of what truly matters. Your health trumps staying up all night and working yourself to death trying to balance a busy schedule. Spending time with family and friends is much more important than watching Netflix in your room. It's easy to take things for granted- so try to appreciate the good you have while you can.

Don’t get caught up in petty drama. High school is full of drama, and nobody wants to waste those four years dealing with it. Once it's over, no one cares about any of that anymore, so there is no use in wasting time and energy dealing with it. Life is so much simpler and more enjoyable when we don’t let drama consume our lives.

Learn to love yourself. This seems like such a simple concept, but it's surprising difficult. If you learn to love yourself early, your life will be so much better and happier. College is hard enough, and dealing with insecurities and self doubt only makes it harder. Loving yourself gives you confidence in every aspect of your life and allows you to connect with others in a prosperous and healthy way. Don’t waste any more time consumed with fear and doubt.

Finally, my most important piece of advice- do what scares you. Don’t ever let fear hold you back from living your best life. I think we all know that fear can be all consuming and one of the hardest parts of life to overcome. However, some of the best things in life come out of conquering your fears. I have had some of my best experiences and some that have made me who I am by pushing away the fears I have. Living life consumed by fears leaves one with regret. Nothing is worst than living a life trapped in regrets and ‘what ifs’ and ‘what could have been’. If you challenge your fears, you will live your best life.

With Love,

Current Me