I'm not sure if any of you did this sort of thing, but back when I was in middle school I had a class that required us to write a letter to our future self. I was in the sixth grade, and we were supposed to write a letter to ourselves and we wouldn't get to read it again until eighth grade, before we graduated and went onto high school.

The whole point of this was to see how much you had changed. I don't really know how much really changes in middle school; it's kind of that awkward time when you don't really know where you really belong or who your true friends are. You are too wrapped up in trying to "fit in".

However, I wanted to write a new and revised letter to my future self. As a sophomore in college, I feel like I have changed so much just in the two short years after high school. So here it goes.

Dear future me,

I hope by the time you read this (whether that be two years, or 5 years from now) you have accomplished a few things.

First off, I hope you are living life with no regrets. If I have learned anything over the past 2 years since starting college, it is that time does not slow down. Living in the moment is so important because you never know what you are going to be missing out on if you're too busy overthinking everything.

Second, I hope you take risks. Venturing out of your comfort zone is when you really start living. Trying something new, traveling to a new place--all of these things will lead to fantastic stories one day.

Third, I hope you are happy. I'm not talking about that superficial smile that you have on your face. I'm talking about true happiness that comes from within. I hope you learn to accept yourself for who you are and that you embrace it. On that note, I hope you love yourself. I hope you don't compare yourself to other people and that you know that your unique qualities are what makes you, you.

I hope that you aren't too stressed out with life. As a current sophomore in college, I have learned to achieve a perfect balance of schoolwork and fun, and still have spare time to give myself time to relax when I need it. I hope that you learn to achieve this balance as well, whether it be with a job or relationship, or just learning to balance life's obligations in general.

I also hope that you have a positive outlook on life. Currently, I am guilty of looking at the glass half empty, rather than half full. I wouldn't say I'm a pessimist, but I would definitely say I am very realistic. I tend to not be overly optimistic about any situation, because I would rather be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.

I hope you have solidified what you want to do with your career and that you follow your dreams and do what you really love.

All of these wishes are just some things that I hope for you. As a current college student it is hard to imagine myself in the "real world", but I hope that by the time this is read, that you are either starting a new chapter in your life, or are already living in it.

Lastly, always remember to be yourself. Don't let anyone let you think that you have to be someone else in order to fit in with the world. Be an individual. Be independent. Indulge in the good things and just live life to the fullest. I'll be in your shoes before you know it.