When you're younger, you think that five years is extremely far away, but as you grow older you realize it isn't.

As I'm approaching my fourth year of college, I look back on all the memories I've made, the people I've met, and the person I've become.

In five years I'll be approaching 26-year-old, and although I don't know what my life will be like, what career I'll have, and who will be in my life, I have hopes for 26-year-old me.

Dear 26-year-old me,

I hope that you're happy, and I hope you make others just as happy.

I hope that you're successful. I pray that these long hours of studying —and having no social life — will pay off.

I hope that you've found someone to love you, the way you've loved them.

I hope that your life isn't as stressful as you (currently) sometimes make situations out to be.

With that being said, I hope that you learn to loosen up a bit and take life as it comes.

I hope that you're healthy, but still enjoying mint chocolate chip ice cream whenever you have the chance.

I hope that you got your dream job, your dream car, and get to spoil yourself... a little.

I hope that even if things don't happen as you've planned for them to, you'll still be happy with the outcome. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

I hope that you've helped people in some sort of way.

I hope that you're proud of the work I'm putting in now, and the choices I'm making.

And finally, I hope that you don't let time pass you by, and instead enjoy every moment.

Love,

Your almost 21-year-old-self.