Dear 18 Year Old Me
You will be fine, just wait and see.
Your A Levels are important. I know that. Your achievements will satisfy you, and you
deserve to satisfy yourself. I accept that. But don’t beat yourself up over the ‘D’ you receive,
it is not the end of the world. Your grades do not measure your intelligence, exams are
nothing but a memory game. So don’t push yourself over the edge studying just learn how to
trust yourself, because you will survive no matter what. You can only give your best.
Now listen, It’s ok if your crush doesn’t like you. You like you, your friends like you and your
family like you; a crush will only fade over time. You probably won’t even find him attractive,
or even remember him 5 years from now. In fact, you will be pleased to know that you
certainly don’t, so turn that frown upside down. You have a lifetime to find a good guy. Ok!
You don’t need to settle down right now. So start your journey towards self-love because
boys will always be there.
‘You are only young once’. Yes, exactly. Now is the time to take risks. Now is the time to
build your self-brand. Now is the time to live. So, get out there; invest in yourself, and never
stop bettering yourself. Get lost in the books that will help you grow. Wander aimlessly
around the places you’ve never been before. Join a student club and volunteer, even if your
friends don’t want to. Your comfort zone will only obstruct you. Learn how to learn for you.
Look. I know the party scene is all new and exciting, but you don’t have to waste your youth
doing just that. Focus on discovering yourself. You don’t have to be like everyone else,
because you are not a sheep. Network, network, network and hold onto the ones who add
value to your life. They are most important. You may think you have your whole career
mapped out, but life can change at anytime. And fortunately for you, it does.
Ok. Last advice. Hear me out. Live within your means. All the fancy items that you’ve been
purchasing, will only come out of style. And all the money that you’ve been splashing, will
only disappoint your future self. Now is the time to learn how to make your money work for
you. Now is the time not to splash, now is the time to stack. Now is the time to lay your
foundation. Now is the time to budget. Thus, stop worrying about how you got into debt, and
start focusing on how to get out.
Now give yourself a round of applause for making it this far. I know you have grown women
strength and are striving for success. Plus, I know you have found your purpose, and are
creating the life that you want. But you will lose yourself, and you will find yourself again –
that is the cycle of life.
Love,
Your 24-Year Old Self
About the author
Tene Edwards is a self-love enthusiast who writes poetry on life challenges.
Follow Tene on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/teneedwards/ and Twitter @teneedwards
