Dear High School Self...

This letter was written for a class assignment today. I have written letters to my future self but it never occurred to me to write one to the past. It was written quickly and started off in a joking manner but ended turning out fairly sincere. Enjoy. And I encourage you to write a letter to your high school self too. It will help you sort out your priorities and see how much you've learned and grown.

8/25/11

Dear High School Amanda,
There are four main points I would like to make in writing this letter. They begin with boys, include physical appearance and social life, and end with academics.
Honey, boys are not everything in the world. Deep down you knew that but you spent far too large of a portion of your attention span dedicated to them. For heaven sakes, butterflies?! You gave each boy a color of butterfly? That was beyond excessive. Know that eventually boys become men. Well, not always, but many do. Know that the first boy you thought you cared about just might be homosexual and start dating an Asian pole dancer with bleach blonde hair. There was no need to think it was the end of the world when he moved away and left you at home eating salad. Have high expectations for the man (not boy) you will marry some day. Don’t settle for mediocre when you are meant to become the person your dream husband is looking for.
As for physical appearance, sports in lieu of books is an acceptable replacement at times. It might have aided your progress to a rockin’ hott body a little bit sooner. However, physical appearance really isn’t all it is made out to be. It is necessary to take care of yourself but do not obsess over appearance. And always remember, while modest is not hottest like all those Mormons claim it is, modest is most beautiful. And you want to be beautiful, not hott. “Immodesty is like rolling in manure. You only attract the pigs and flies.” You’ll deal with enough pigs and flies in your life. Don’t create a situation in which to invite it into your life any further.
As for a social life, get one. It’s great that you have three of the best friends in the world but branch out. Be the one to unite all the different groups you somehow fit into. Have the courage to friendship those who you will not allow yourself to party with but can still create amazing relationships with and focus on the good things you can do together. Step outside of your comfort zone because as you do you will discover traits and qualities in yourself that you never knew you had. You have the gift of being able to accept people- no matter how different from you they are. You automatically have a deep love for people in your life, even if most (yourself included) do not understand why. Use your social life to explore new options and opinions and allow those to develop your own thoughts and ideas. More than anything, be yourself. There is only one of you on this earth and there is a reason you are the way you are.
As for academics, I am so proud of you. You dedicated a huge portion of your life to working hard in the area of academics and it paid off. You’ll understand some day just how important those $36,000 you’re working to earn via a scholarship will be. That money will keep you out of debt and put you in a financial situation in which you can use the rest of your funds to see the world like you’ve always dreamed of doing. You believe that the reason you work hard in school and life is because nothing you want to achieve/become in life is accomplished without a great deal of hard work. Keep believing in that and use it during those times you lack motivation. You have the power to become absolutely anything you want which not only includes wonderful good things but also things that you won’t be proud of. Don’t live your life in a way that you will look back full of pain and regrets.
High school self, you are on a really good path so far. You have your issues but in the next couple years you’ll mature and look back on things you are working towards and be proud of your progress. Don’t forget to set goals, wake up every morning with a smile, and open your textbook every once in a while instead of just buying them and then selling them back. Don’t doubt that your dreams won’t come true. As long as you stay true to who you are and always work hard towards your goals, you will obtain and become everything you have ever wanted. Believe. Hope. Endure.

All my love and support,
Modern day me.