Dear Future Children, 

Soon you will be my age—not that I’m old or anything; I’m only eighteen. But eighteen is definitely much different than how I imagined it would look on me. When I was younger, I think the most enjoyment I got from anything was reading books. I had imagined myself in some sort of adventure: lights, camera, and more books. 

In high school, I guess I thought adulting was for people in their thirties and beyond. So: here I am now, and the word “transition” is an understatement. In the past four years, I learned much more than I thought I would, and I feel very awkward about it all. 

My high school experience was the best experience, one of the most unique. Part of me wishes someone would have told me to appreciate and milk out my experiences there. I wish someone had told me in ninth grade what a GPA is and why it is important. But then, I might not be where I am today. Things that people said that did leave an impact were:

“The world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“If she wants to peak in high school, that’s fine with me.”

“Do you want to be mediocre for the rest of your life?”

I’m sure there’s more, but those three things stick out. 

When you’re young, it feels so wonderous to dream, to imagine, and to believe in a world where the best is possible, where magic is in life as it is in Disney movies, and that you can do and be all that you want. Hold fast to those dreams. 

For most of my life, adults around me would say, “you’ll understand when you get older.” But I was always smart and introspective. My grandpa would say that I am twelve going on twenty-two.  Now that I am older, I know what that means. I understand now that you can truly lose everything faster than you think, that nothing is more important than your health and well-being. Things still fall into place if you go to sleep instead of pulling an all-nighter. I understand that when people say they don’t have money, it could also mean they are saving what they do have for something more important.

After going from high school to college, my life feels like it’s shifted rather than simply transitioned to the next phase. At this point, your life and the people in it will be up to you, and that is a lot of pressure. Don’t be dramatic about it, though. 

So here is my advice to you, future children, as you reach my age: know that you are okay, but remember to always put yourself first. That doesn’t mean be selfish or disregard others; it means you must realize that you are here now because of you. Do not take yourself—or others—for granted.

Sincerely,

Ameerah

P.S. there are so many natural disasters/phenomena happening on the earth right now. Whether things are bad or good, continue to take care of it.