Journal #12: Letter to my Former and Future Selves

Task #1

"What Students Really Need To Hear"

Response

I understand the teacher’s point. He sees students not taking advantage of the different opportunities high school presents. However, I would argue that he has a very pessimistic viewpoint of the teenage mindset. Teenagers are not disinterested, moody, irresponsible or unproductive because they are giving up. Teenagers are going through a period of growth. They’re trying to figure out their interests and all in all who they are, and if their interests are not lined up with that teacher’s ideas, it shouldn't and doesn’t make them a failure. Skipping a class in order to sleep or for a fun activity isn’t a blatant stance of defiance against schooling. Sometimes adolescents need to create their own mental health days, and experience less of the academic growth and more of the sleep or social interaction they are desperately craving. Considering that teenagers require a balance of social interaction, sleep, and schooling in order to grow into functioning adults, choosing to pursue one that may currently be out of balance should in no way be seen as quitting.

Task #2

Letter to my Freshman Self

Dear freshmen year Emily,

Don’t worry that much. You will survive this. Middle school was awesome. You have made some really amazing friends that will stay with you through high school, and some that won’t. For the ones that leave, you’re better off without them. Additionally, Middle school was relatively easy for us. High school can be just as easy so long as you stick to the work! That means put in your headphones, stay away from Tumblr, and focus on the AP lit essay that is on the screen in front of you. You’re a hard worker, so I know that this is something you’re more than capable of. Furthermore, know that High School is not the same type of atmosphere as Middle School. Everything will become more clique like. My advice is to find the group that you fit best, and trust me when I say that they are the strangest, most awesome people. Also, for goodness sakes don’t freak out so much over the school work. There is no reason to nearly die over-working yourself on assignments. A bad grade is not the end of the world. Of course, that doesn’t mean slack on the work. If you’ve spent hours starring at the same homework problems, have gotten nowhere and now it’s midnight, it means go to bed. Your sanity is important, and do not compromise it for any teacher, grade, or assignment.

Put yourself out there, especially when it’s scary. There are so many opportunities, and you never know what ones will be the most important to you later on. Be yourself; don’t run with the crowd when they’re running in the opposite direction you want to go. All in all, enjoy High School. It only happens once, but I know that we made the most of it.

Sincerely Yours,

Senior Year Emily

Letter to my Future Self

Dear Future Emily,

First off, we better have visited Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at some point by now or at least somewhere in France. I know that we have always wanted a family, and I hope we ended up finding the love of our life. But, I hope we didn’t settle.

I had dreams of becoming the best graphic designer, owning a clothes line, being a photographer, and one of the best moms. We wanted to travel the world, and experience all the different cultures that the small town we grew up in was lacking. I hope we were able to grow, and shed the ignorance of the place we grew up.

If I have reached the point of settling down, I hope that I figured out some better baby names than the ones I had originally planned to use. They honestly were really bad.

I hope we are still devoted to God. I wanted to live my life according to Lutheran philosophy, and I hope I made an impact through my good works.

Honestly, even if I didn’t accomplish any of these things as long as I’m currently happy with my life then I did a good job. When it comes down to it, all I really want out of my life is to be happy.

Sincerely Yours,

Senior Year Emily