Dear Cole and Jack,

They will worry. They will yell. But they will love you first and foremost. They will tell you to stay humble, they will make you clean your room. It’s annoying. Oh so annoying. But I made it through and so will you. I leave for college in 63 days and all I can think of are the annoying things Mom and Dad ingrained in my brain. The only thing different is that I’m looking at these things, regretting not taking them to heart.

“It’s gotta come from you”. I know you’ve heard this one. The first time I heard it I was consumed with mixed emotions on the last day of my first year in high school. My grades weren’t where I wanted them, and I knew mom and dad would be mad. I wasn’t thinking about how bad I wanted to go to a good college, but how bad they wanted me to go to a good college…and little did I know the next piece of advice I heard was one I would despise from then on out.

The tables have turned and as I’m on my way out of high school I find myself needing this advice and looking back on it and thinking about how I should have used it. If I want something, I have to make it happen; I can’t wait for someone else to.

“Everything you need is outside of your comfort zone”. Mom and Dad have always tried to instill it in us to take risks. Whether it was jumping off the Colorado cliffs into the “punch bowl” just to get the temporary adrenaline rush, or applying to the college much too prestigious. Risks must be taken in order to get to the next step, and diminish the fear that comes with it. All out of good intention, Mom and Dad would urge me to take risks in my writing, in my schoolwork, and my physical ability.

Although it seems tedious and obnoxious, this advice I would rank the highest. I regret taking it for granted throughout the years. Now realizing this, I will be sure to adopt what I didn't find important in in the past.

“Have a little integrity”. It’s almost self explanatory, definitely overused, but also true. When Mom and Dad said it, the repetition took away what the true meaning is. I heard it after I told a lie, before a test, and any difficult occasion. Looking back, every time I heard the words, they went in one ear and out the other. The overuse resulted in a meaningless conversation to me.

I now realize, all of the meaningless conversations were anything but meaningless. Integrity is a quality necessary in life. Integrity is a quality I possess, but not without the reiteration of its importance. Thanks to Mom and Dad, “have a little integrity,” without me really knowing, went in one ear, but remained inside.

“I know” was always my response to our parents. Over and over, with a sprinkle of attitude, I would respond to Mom and Dad as they told me the most important words. These words shaped who I am and what I stand for, without me knowing. I am 63 days from being 786 miles away from you. All I want you to understand is, no matter how annoying they are, don’t take what they are trying to tell you for granted. Don’t just respond with “I know”. Take it to heart. Use it to your advantage.

Love,

Sophie