5 years later

BOYS ARE TROUBLE AND STAY AWAY!
Just don't go there if you don't have to.
All through high school they will not know what they want, will make more drama than they are worth and will make you sad for no real reason.
And mom and dad actually know best about relationships

Do not get yourself so hyped about being a section leader. Because you will ruin your entire senior season because you were too proud. Learn your music and act as an example.

Owen will always be mean about relationships and how you can't seem to hold onto them very well. He may surprise you with something nice every once in a while but honestly don't take it all to heart.

There is nothing wrong with you, you just have high standards and if something wasn't difficult to love it wouldn't be worth it.
So girl you are totally worth it.
Do not question your worth as a person and whether or not you deserve to be loved.
BECAUSE YOU TOTALLY DO!

Stop competing with Tia and Kelsey for bassoon chairs. Just be happy that you are finally in wind ensemble.

You do not have to follow in Owen's footsteps to be successful.

Right about now exactly 5 years ago you are getting your first kiss ever. I know you are a late bloomer and you will do everything after everyone else. I know everyone got kissed years before you but just know, its a pretty good kiss and an embarrassing story to tell friends later on. Just please don't mix up when you accidentally text Mr. Downing that there was tongue and you meant to send that to Brynna. And when rumors start building about it, do not take it personally. You were there, you know the facts. Boys are dumb and mean.
So really just don't kiss mean boys.
And don't believe that he would want to move to Arvada.
Or that you could make long distance work at 16. 5 years old.
Just stop thinking that guy will work out. He will be the first guy to use you and then leave you.

You have still never been in love at 21.5 years old.
I know, its sad.

You are still going to be a hot crying mess through all these years, but you get tougher and tougher.
Eventually you will be able to hold your head higher.

You will find that being alone gives your more confidence than being in a relationship.

Mom is going to get sick, and it will change your life for the better.
That year will be one of the hardest of your life. Keep your head up. She will be just fine and you guys will come out stronger.

When you meet Bri in comp 350, know she loves hard and she is your friend for some odd reason. Hug her more because she will be in your life one minute and then gone the next and you will sometimes still not fully believe it.

You are going to pick a tiny liberal arts college 6 hours away from home because the people were nicest to you there. It's ok that you are the odd one out amongst the hippies. Its ok that you are preppy McPrepperson but remember you need to make friends too.
Stop shutting yourself off from all the other people in your dorm.Go out and make friends with the hippies.

There are going to be plenty of days you don't like yourself, where you can't do anything right and feel like the world is coming down.
Take a deep breathe. This is life. You can make it through it.

You are going to give 110% a lot. And you are not going to get many things that give back 110%.
So you are going to get your heart broken.
And you are not always going to succeed.
And you are going to cry a lot.

But there will be times when it pays off. Embrace those times and the hurdle you have overcome.
Like getting that editor position or returning as an orientation leader instead of just logistics or getting one of your films in a film festival.
Celebrate that you finally got something to work out.
Bask in the light because it does not come around very often so soak it all in.

You are going to make wishes a lot on 11:11 because you feel that maybe somewhere in the universe someone is listening and collecting all of them and maybe someday just maybe you'll finally get something.

You are going to have to figure out and sort those that have an agenda and those that do not. There will always be people the use and abuse your sweet heart, you just need to figure out who is worth the hurt.

Do not date on the editorial staff. Just stop it now.

If you can, maybe don't get your first serious relationship in the first week of college and say "I love you" in the first week. Maybe I don't know, try just being yourself in college. Making friends and instead of just attaching yourself to the first soul to come along to partially care about your situation.

You are always going to fall for the wrong guys and get hurt. Just know that you have terrible timing and still do not know what you want. Relax a bit and focus on yourself.

You are going to be let go from the very first job you actually enjoyed exactly 5 years after you kissed that pretty Spanish boy. And its going to hurt.

If a boy tries to kiss you and you don't feel like kissing him then don't kiss him. You don't need to bite the bullet. If he was worth your time he would respect that you didnt feel safe and he was drunk.
Also make sure you always have friends around that will save you from creepy, handsy men.

Know that Dad will always know the right thing to say when your heart hurts.

Know that Mom will always know the right thing to do for you when you are broken.

Genuine compliments do not come by very often. Take them in and hold onto them.

Always be grateful for what you have. The job you have, the school you are able to go to, the food on the table, the people that are friends with you and the family that loves you.

You will find that you want to go into journalism in Michelle Bonanos action research class.

You will then find out that you actually love it more than life itself in Leslie Blood's class.

You will find that The Indy is your second family.

You are going to get hurt and knocked down a lot. You are also going to get back up and get stronger.

Someday's you will wonder why you were put on this earth if life was going to hurt this much.

Someday's you will hate your scars because they remind you of all the things you don't know for certain in this life.

You still havent figured out men even at this age. And now you are bethrothed to Mitchell McLaughlan. So by the eve of your 30th birthday if you are not engaged or married, you will marry Mitch on that next new years eve.
Congrats.

There will be plenty of days you don't like what you see in the mirror.
But also days when you look and actually like what you see.

You still hate running at this age.

Try to find men that like you for your mind more than your body. Because you will become a pretty young lady after you get out of your insanely long awkward stage.
Right now you have a good about 6 months before you will finally get out of it. Be patient.

Stop pining over that one guy. He will never see you how you see him.
Or at least 5 years later he still sees you as a friend,

You are going to spend nearly your first two years that you are in college, attached to the hip of a man that was first nice to you in college and cared for what was happening with mom. It was a fine relationship but when you feel he has bigger priorities like playing games instead of going to class, you might want to snip that flower right then and there.

You will shoot for the stars and hardly make it, but in the end, your persistence builds character. And damn girl, you never give up.

You still love naps, chocolate and music.

You love writing and journalism now and your dream job is to work for Darling Magazine.

All in all, you turn out all right kid.
Just maybe don't kiss the boy tonight