Letter to 13 Year Old Me

 

Tomorrow is my last day of teaching my math class.

As I was preparing the activity that I plan to have them do on their final day of seventh grade, it made me reminisce a little bit.

I'm having them make an origami x-faced cube (I couldn't bare even one day without some type of math), and then I'm going to have them finish this sentence on a little piece of paper: "If there is one thing I want to remember about seventh grade, it would be..." Then I want them to fold it up, and put it inside their little box for a keepsake.

I want to talk to them about how these moments-
seventh grade,
Junior High friendships,
carefree attitudes...
-go by way too fast, and in ten years, many of those memories will be gone, even when you try to think back upon them.

I know some will roll their eyes and do the assignment just for the credit in the class. But others I hope will write something meaningful that they might read years later, perhaps causing a flashback of what their life once was like, so long ago. I wish I had more of those things written down.

I tried to think about what I might have written down in an assignment such as this one. Probably nothing too important, but it would be meaningful just the same, because things that seem unimportant now once had huge importance back in my seventh grade year. Things such as
boys,
clothes,
music,
acceptance issues,
parent problems,
sibling problems,
hair problems,
diet issues,
confusion,
life's many directions,
fitting into the right groups,
making the right choices,
making the wrong choices...
some of these have faded,
while some of these are still present in this completely different life I am living right now.

Dear 13 Year Old Me,

First of all, stop worrying so much.
You worry about making the wrong choices.
You worry about not being a good example for your younger sisters.
You worry about what others may think of you.
You worry that you aren't good enough.
Just stop, because most of that worrying is so unnecessary.

You are at a place in your life that you can live, without all of that worry.

You are great at making friends.
Remember how to stay like this because in the future, you will need this skill.
You are so lucky to have the friends you do.
Not many kids at your age can say that they grew up with such an awesome, close-knit, group as you did. 
You struggle with finding acceptance within yourself, and they definitely help with that.

Setting your friends aside, be yourself. 
The people around you don't need to accept everything about you.
It is okay if they don't.
Don't be scared to share your real opinions and thoughts with others.
They will appreciate your ability to be honest with them.
I know that is hard sometimes, especially when you are caught between doing the right thing, 
and still being "cool", 
but in the end, the honesty is what really matters.
The honesty, to yourself and to your values, will be what makes you proud of yourself later in life.

With your life at school, and your life with your friends,
don't forget your life with your family.
As much as they annoy you now,
you will love them and appreciate them much more if you learn to get along with them.
Remember that while the friend memories are great,
the family memories are just as, if not even more, important.
Don't take the good family that you were blessed with for granted.
It will only make you sad later on.

Get to know your sisters. 
They are the ones that in ten years, you will love to stay up late talking with.
They are the ones that in ten years, you will want to call up and vent to.
They are the ones that in ten years, will still be there following your every life detail.
They are the ones that in ten years, will understand you- 
where you are, 
where you come from, 
and where you are going.
There is nothing like the blessing of a sister,
and you are so lucky- you have been blessed with two great ones!

Love your mom.
Love your dad.
They know you so well.
You are going to make mistakes- big mistakes.
But they will still be there for you. 
I promise.
When it feels like there is no one else, they will be there.

Gain a testimony.
You will be thankful you did later.
Stand strong to that testimony, because in the end, it will carry you through.

And again, stop worrying.
Someday you will marry the man of your dreams.
So stop being attracted to guys that aren't good enough for you.
Because believe it or not, a guy that deserves you is out there.
And you two will be so happy.
It's going to be fun, 
really.

Just love everyone. You have an opportunity to be different from the people around you.
Embrace that fact, and stop trying to be the same.  

With love,
23 Year Old Karli
 
P.S. 
Just wait until you hold your first son in your arms for the very first time. 
You will love him so much, 
and better yet, he will love you back, 
just as much. 
He will love you no matter how many friends you have. 
So learn to love yourself. 
There is so much more to life then what you know right now.