Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Self

Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Self,

By this time, you are fresh out of high school and about to enter uncharted territory. You may feel lost along the way, wondering if you went to the right university or if you picked the right course, but do not fret. Everything will turn out just fine. Besides, that feeling of being lost – it never goes away. It will haunt you until you’re twice your age and will continue to haunt you until you die. Just remember that despite feeling lost, trust your instincts and give everything your all. That’s when you will feel successful in your life.

This will be the first time you will experience freedom – living by yourself, away from parents and able to stay till late outside during weekdays. Do not abuse this freedom. It is extremely tempting, but do not forget your responsibilities as a student. That is the foremost reason you were given that freedom in the first place.

Don’t set your expectations too low. Aim for the stars, if possible. Do not be contented with mediocrity: of just passing each subject, or being able to pull off a presentation with an all-nighter as preparation. You’ll eventually realize that hard work does pay off, if not through lessons learned, through its literal meaning of being paid off in pecuniary form.

Always remember that it’s okay to be gay. Aside from that, it’s also okay to take your time until you’re ready to tell the people closest to you that you are attracted to the same sex. When you’re older and you’ve met the people who will stick by you no matter what, you will find it a lot easier to come out of the closet to them. There are even those who already just know, or have known from the beginning of your friendship, but have accepted you for who you are, and love you just the same.

You may (or will) lose your virginity at that age. And it will be the start of an exciting journey. Learn to exercise good discretion, and while you’re at it, exercise your thigh and leg muscles as well, as these will help you in achieving a good balance in your (secret) sex life. At times, you may feel on top (yes, ironic…) of the world with endless opportunities going your way, but try to limit them and choose only the best. This will only go on for a certain phase, and after that, you will find meaningless sex exactly as it truly is – meaningless.

You will find it necessary to always be on good side of every person you meet. Remember this: you don’t have to please everyone. You don’t have to be friends with every acquaintance or every classmate, because after college, chances are, you’ll never get to meet them again. You’ll eventually realize that in terms of friends, quality is better than quantity; and that even those whom you thought you were close with will eventually drift away from you, and you will be left with only those friends who will stay with you for your lifetime.

I have a lot of other things I want to tell you: Don’t drink and smoke too much. Take your accounting classes seriously. Dress well. Read more. Write often. Take your relationships seriously. Don’t take family for granted. Don’t cheat on tests. Attend varsity practice religiously. Eat more vegetables. Pray. And use sunscreen.

The list would go on forever. But I’ll end by telling you to make the most out of life. Don’t regret anything you’ve done because these form part of what makes you you, and there’s no other way of living life except by being who you truly are.

Love,

Your Thirty-Something Year Old Self