Dear Sarah,

Hey, it’s me, your twenty-three year old self. Yep, I’ve totally mastered this thing called life (not) and wanted to stop by and feed you some advice. Take a moment and take out your ear buds, because I know you are sitting there reading this with your MP3 player on full volume, probably jamming to some sort of pop-punk band that you are currently head over heels for and cannot wait to go to the show when you are in town. I know that you are so ready to move and take that next step in life, but before you take that major leap, there are a few things I want you to know:

1. Slow down. I know you just rolled your eyes at me after reading that phrase. As much as you want to just put the pedal to the metal, please take a moment and enjoy your life the way it is. I know what you’re thinking: you can’t wait to move away from mom and dad, your homework sucks, you hate getting up at 6am, and you can’t wait to have your first full-time job and make “bank”. Let me tell you something, Sarah. Your parents love you so much. While they are excited to see you go off to college, they will miss having you around the house everyday despite how much you think you annoy them (I’m sure I did mom, sorry!). Whether or not you want to admit it, YOU WILL MISS THEM TOO, so enjoy your last year of high school with them. College is such an exciting time to meet new people, new connections, and awesome experiences, but never forget all the fun times you are having right now with all of your current friends, because your life is going to change dramatically after you graduate!

2. It’s okay to not know what you want to do with the rest of your life. Seriously, it is! Whoever decided that it was necessary for seventeen and eighteen year olds to decide what they wanted their lifetime career to be right now is insane and chances are they have no idea what they are doing either. Going into college as “undecided” is completely okay! It’s also okay to enter in hopes of earning a marketing, business, nursing, arts, or accounting degree too. Whatever you decide, just remember that it’s okay to change your mind. Passions and interests change sometimes! I know they did for me!

3. Take every opportunity that comes your way. Whether it’s running for homecoming queen or deciding you want to join the ultimate Frisbee team your senior year (which I totally wish I did by the way, but I loved lacrosse so much!), take all those opportunities that catch your eye. What’s the worst that could happen? You join and decide it’s not for you? Either way you have nothing to lose! Trust me, you never want to look back and realize you wished you had tried because you never know what could have been.

4. What you do after graduation might be different than what your friends are doing. I used the word “might” here because sometimes your paths may cross with your friends. However, in order for you to branch out and truly grow, you should be open to new experiences and follow your own path. Just because you both got accepted to the same college does not mean you need to go, especially if your heart is pulling you towards something more. True friendships will withstand time and distance, so don’t feel like choosing a different path will end things between you two.

 

5. Start saving your money! Alright, let’s be real. You just got paid and you really want to go to the mall and go on a shopping spree, probably at Wet Seal or H&M. While I totally believe you need to treat yourself, understand that there needs to be a balance between spending and saving. I know this is the last thing you want to think about, but you will be so happy down the road when you graduate with little to no student loans (I graduated with zero loans) because you were smart about your money. Choose a school that is affordable and apply for those dang scholarships! You will be so happy that you did!!! Even if you aren’t going to college (which is definitely okay, college isn’t a necessary step for everyone), you should still be conscious of how much money you are dropping into your saving account.

 

6. Understand that money isn’t everything. I’m sure you rolled your eyes again, seventeen year old Sarah. You think I am contradicting myself, right? Wrong. Though money has an ever occurring appearing in our lives, it should not be what you’re chasing. Don’t chase a career because some website tells you the starting salary is $100,000. Sure, that’s a good chunk of money, but it might not necessarily be a job you enjoy! Being fulfilled does not mean making a certain dollar amount, but chasing your dream. If money is your number one priority, chances are you will never feel “enough”. Obviously you need to choose a profitable career and pay your dang bills, but at the end of the day your happiness comes first!

7. Whatever you decide to do after high school, chase happiness. I’m not saying this to sound cliché, I mean it very seriously! Everyone’s dream is different, so don’t feel bad if you take the path less taken. College will give you a leg up in the workforce, but it isn’t always a necessary step in the path to success. Either way, you need to understand that no matter what you decide to do it is going to be hard work!

Sarah, don’t be afraid, life is so beautiful! There is so much more to come, so I hope you are excited for what the future holds. Trust me, six years from now you will look back and smile at how far you have come. Take those chances, have your fun, and push yourself! I know you will be happy that you did.

Cheers from your future self,
Sarah

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