An Open Letter to My 14 Year Old Self upon Entering High School

I started a little series a while back called “The Lowdown on Lindsay” where I could tell you guys a little bit more about myself so you could get to know the girl behind the blog.  I’ve neglected it for so long that you probably don’t even remember it, but I thought that today’s Show and Tell Tuesday link-up topic on Momfessionals was the perfect subject to get back into it. 

High school for me was basically… Do I look dorky in this shirt?  Why do I look so awkward in everything I wear?  Ugh, why does my body look like that of a 12 year old boy’s?  Will I find a date for prom?  Why doesn’t <insert current boy obsession’s name here> like me back?  Am I going to pass physics?  Am I going to get into my college of choice?  Will I do well enough to eventually get a good job?  What do I even want to be when I grow up?  Am I ever going to meet the man of my dreams?  Will I ever get married?  Have babies?  The list of worries was never-ending…

On the way to our big rival football game, junior year

Right after I started driving, junior year

While it was also a hugely fun time for me, high school was a time that was filled to the brim with uncertainty.  I was not one of those girls who had the designer clothes and the means to escape the inevitable awkward phase that plagues so many of us.  I did not have the confidence that some girls had, and I certainly didn’t feel like I had the world on a string as so many of my classmates seemed to.  I did like myself, I did have a great group of friends, and I did have a lot of fun.  But bottom line, high school was filled with uncertainty. 

And I have never liked uncertainty.  

Seniors!

Seniors!

I’m now all grown up and I have a dreamboat husband whom I’m still in love with after almost nine years of marriage.  I have two smart, kind, gorgeous, and hilarious children whom I love more than life itself.  I have a good job.  I have amazing friends.  All of us are healthy.  I have a beautiful house, food on my table, clothes on my back.  I guess you could say that I have everything that I’ve ever wanted.  Life took me on the path that I’ve always wanted to travel, and I’ve learned a lot along the way (as most of us have).  If I could go back in time and say a few things to myself upon entering high school I definitely would, and they would be…

Junior high was the worst… the hardest part is over.

Don’t be afraid of those girls who were so M-E-A-N in junior high.  High school will be much better so there’s no need to live in constant fear that the harmony is going to end at any second.  These girlfriends of yours will be lifelong friends... you will still be hanging out with them in 2016, drinking margaritas or wine, and talking about the latest crazy thing that your children have done.

Heading out to dinner, senior year

Partying, beginning of senior year

Immerse yourself in high school life and make as many memories as you can because it will be over in the blink of an eye.

You and your friends will be pretty good at doing this, but looking back, you will still feel like there’s more you could have done.  There will be a few events over the years that you will skip out on, and then you will feel like if you could do it all over again, you wouldn’t miss a one of them.  So don’t.  

One of our many parties or senior year, just before graduation

Don’t be so self-conscious and don’t care so much about what other people think.

Who cares if you’re not wearing the most popular jeans?  Who cares if you slipped and almost fell on your face in the hallway?  Who cares if you got halfway through your speech in English class and forgot the words?  Nobody is going to remember that at your 10 year high school reunion anyway, and if for some reason they do, chances are you’ll be feeling fab and looking like a million bucks so you’ll laugh about it with them.  And you will truly be comfortable doing that because you will have finally gained the confidence that you were lacking in high school.

Everyone makes mistakes and most people are insecure about something, so in the words of T-Swizz, shake it off. 

10 Year High School Reunion - 2010

10 Year High School Reunion - 2010

10 Year High School Reunion - 2010

 

You’ll meet your dream husband someday, but he’s not here.  Don’t waste time on long-term relationships with guys who you don’t really want to be with anyway.

Don’t be so boy crazy.  There’s no need to always be on the quest to find your future husband because you’re not going to end up alone like you fear.  This is totally unnecessary to worry about at the tender age of 17.  Don’t date that same guy for the majority of your senior year because you will end up missing out on some fun things because of it.  Sure, it will be nice to have a built-in date for the prom, but it will also be fun to date around and get to know other guys.  No need to be so serious at such a young age… especially when you don’t see forever with him in the first place.  

Baccalaureate before graduation, senior year

Spoiler alert – everything turns out OK!  Please stop worrying so much and for heaven’s sake, please stop taking everything so seriously. 

Let go and have fun, don’t fuss so much over grades.  Yes, they’re important, but they’re not going to dictate how you spend the rest of your life.  High school is not really that big of a deal in the scheme of life and nobody is going to judge you for who you were back then.  Who cares if you get one C on a test?  It’s not going to cost you a future job.  Who cares if you can’t find a date to the school dance?  It’s not going to mean that you’re going to die an old maid.  Go with your girlfriends… you’ll have more fun with them anyway.  

High School Graduation - C/O 2000!!!!

Bottom line, everything in your life is going to work out in good timing, so just be yourself.  Feel free.  Enjoy this time where you’re not tied up with a job and bills and other life responsibilities and commitments.  Soak up the little moments that you’ll never get a chance to have again.  Ride around with your girlfriends with the windows down and sing at the top of your lungs.  Meet for coffee and donuts before class.  Act like a total goofball and have no regrets. 

And for Pete’s sake, please go ahead and start plucking your eye brows and highlighting your hair… it will suit you much better.  ;o)

Disclaimer – I’m still friends with a lot of these girls and I know some of them read my blog, so ladies, if you're reading, please don’t ban me from Margarita Night for posting these pictures!  Haha.

*Linking up with Momfessionals for Show and Tell Tuesday, Our Pretty Little Girls for Tuesday Talk and Simply Every.