I'm gonna start off with saying that school, crazily enough, gets easier. You're a pretty smart girl so you don't have many issues there (Count your blessings). Don't listen to the mean kids. You aren't ugly because you have acne, wear your brother's old clothes, or because you're chubby. You've always been a confident kid, PLEASE don't lose that. Choosing home school is an amazing idea, and you're gonna make so many friends. Stick to your guns and convince mom and dad with everything you've got. Oh, and hold onto them; they're the best parents in the world and you're so lucky to have them. You had a rough year last year, but you've got to remember papaw and papaw chief both loved you a lot, and it does get easier.

You're gonna have a rough few years headed to you, too.

In about a year, a close family friend will commit suicide and that will affect your life more than you expect. After that, dad will be diagnosed with cancer and will pass away 10 months later. You have to (HAVE TO) stick with mom through everything. You need each other more than anyone else in the world.

Don't push away your friends. They'll be there for you even when you don't deserve it or expect it (shout out to Jodie, Sarah, Hannah, Mackenzie, Brighton, Victoria, Kara and Raelynn). Most importantly, do NOT let anyone tell you how you should or should not grieve. Grieving is a very personal experience and everyone does it differently.

You will hurt for years, you will continue to hurt for the rest of your life; but you get used to it. It doesn't "get better over time," you get used to the pain and learn how to function with it. If someone tells you to "choose happiness" you have to remember: sometimes choosing happiness is getting out of bed in the morning.

Happiness is subjective.

During this time you're going to move houses, go through 3 jobs, gain a ton of friends, lose a few best friends, change your church, be in (and out) of your first romantic relationship, gain and then lose some weight, graduate high school, and daily overcome depressions, anxiety and PTSD.

You're going to grow up a lot over these short years, but thankfully you don't lose your sarcasm or your sweetness (you're also super humble). Word of advice: stay true to who you are, as corny as it sounds, because you were made exactly how God intended you to be. You go through so much through the years, but sticking with Him is how you're going to survive.

James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." KJV