Student Blog: A Letter to My Younger Self

Now that it's time to start my last year in college as a senior, I had a little time to think about what I would say to my high school self, who was eager to apply to colleges and change her life. It may be too early to call it a letter to my younger self, but that's what it is: a couple of things I learned in my last four years.

Know your goals but don't obsess over them. Dreams can and should change.

Of course, bad things will happen in life, and it's not always easy to move on. Give yourself some time, not a specific amount, even you don't know how much time you'll need, but afterward, don't dwell on them. Everyone makes mistakes. Learn from them, and when enough time passes, learn to laugh at them because life is too short to always be serious.

Don't be a know-it-all. Whatever you are going through, very different people went through the same things as you at some point in history. Feelings are universal, don't alienate yourself from your friends and family because of them.

Listen to as many people as you can while making a decision but afterward, decide on your own. Sometimes unexpected people provide you a different perspective you couldn't have come up with by yourself, but at the end of the day, you are the only one who will live out the outcomes of your decisions.

Spend time with your friends and family and everyone else you care about. Enjoy every moment you spend with them; you don't know when will be the next time you'll see them again.

Don't be afraid to spend some time alone. Even if it leads you to think some stuff you are trying to push away. Especially then. Just because you are not actively thinking something doesn't mean it's not on your mind.

Deal with your emotions; don't run away from them. You can physically run from them, but you know that they'll come with you wherever you go.

Don't be afraid of a little certainty. You don't need to have a set plan for the future, in fact, don't. But don't forget a little consistency in your present can be helpful, especially after 2020.

Enjoy little moments in life. A ray of sunshine after a rainy day or a night full of stars can be much more beautiful than a planned vacation at a five-star resort.

Be around people who make you happy. Happiness is the most important thing in life, and it grows when it is shared, don't forget that.

Don't care about what other people will say or think about you. Whatever you'll do, they will have an opinion, so do what makes you happy.

Also, whatever you do, have some fun. Time passes, whether you smile or frown, so make sure that you create memories that you'll cherish in the future.

Don't ever let anyone tell you what you're feeling. You are the only one who can know that.

And wherever life takes you, go. Don't waste your time on woulda, coulda, shoulda.