To my 16-year-old self,

You are amazing.

Even though you feel like your life is ending starting at a new high school for your junior year, it will end up being the best thing ever. You will make amazing friends and amazing memories. C, C, and A will become your best friends and will get you through some tough times. Even though your relationship with C goes downhill in a few years, don’t regret the friendship you develop with him. You’ll have a bit of an up-and-down relationship with B, but it’s worth it and he becomes one of the best friends you could have.

Lay off on those first couple flirtatious months. Keep the cuddling and hand-holding to a minimum. You’ll date a couple great guys so don’t worry about the few guys that first show interest in you. They’re not worth your time and you’ll find better. And keep those journal entries coming. You will love to read them years down the road.

Keep your girlfriends close. They end up being a strength to you years down the road. A is, of course, one of the best friends ever. Remember that she is going through hard things, too. Drama will come — just roll with it and you’ll make it out just fine.

Live it up at work. You may work at a silly place (after all the mascot is a mouse), but you make good friends and memories there and there is no place you would rather work during high school. It’s a blessing to find a job that is closed on Sundays and allows you to have every Tuesday off for Mutual, not to mention giving you “Hell Week” off for dance concerts.

Go to all the dances, and attend all the activities. You’re only in high school once and it’s the best time. Football and basketball games are your life. Live it up as a Bruin Crazy – bleed cardinal, white and gold. Continue to fight to be outgoing and make new friends. Don’t let your shy temperament get you down.

Keep taking your honors classes. (Although it’s ok you fail out of AP Calc your senior year because really… You got college credit the year before in College Algebra and Trig, so it’s an unnecessary stress.) And don’t forget that you already took Foods 1, so you don’t take it again your senior year. 
Sign up for Choir when you register for classes at your new school. You’ll regret that you didn’t.

I am so proud of you for trying out for plays, and choir, and dance company, and drill team. And I’m proud of you for running for student council three years, even though you don’t ever win. It’s great experience. You will be a part of Bruin Crew, which is just as great and you’ll have a blast. Dance Company ends up being the crowning experience of your high school career. It’s amazing and you’ll learn so much.

Work more on your relationship with your family. They love you and look up to you.

Above all, remember who you are. You are the daughter of  King. You handle drama gracefully. You are loyal and strong. You are a hard-worker. You are beautiful. You are smart. You are a leader.
You can be whatever you want to be.

I love you! You have so much to look forward to.
Keep smiling, no matter what, and never lose your optimistic spirit.

Love,
Your 25-year-old self