{ WARNING: Includes incredibly awkward photos of an incredibly awkward teen. }

Dear Victoria,

So you’re fifteen! You’ve {attempted} to do your makeup just the right way, you have bought about eight thousand pair of Miss Me Jeans and have teased your hair to heights even Everest would be proud of. You plan on attending every football game even if your Alma matter isn’t so hot on the field, you plan on dating a cute senior and making straight A’s. Neither of those is going to happen. You are nervous, I get it. You are anxious about how high school is going to be, who you are going to be friends with and who you are going to become. Don’t worry, though. I’ve been through it all, came out on the other side and I’m here to give you some advice about surviving those turbulent four years. So sit back, relax and PUT DOWN THE STRAIGHTENER!

1. Don’t worry about what others think

You’re fifteen years old! This is probably one of the most care free times of your life before bills, tuition and finals. Don’t let those stereotypical “Mean Girls” and “Jerky Jocks” deter you from having a great time! Focus on grades, hanging out with friends and making memories instead of worrying if your makeup is just right and if your jeans are in the right shade. Who cares if you are a size two of a size ten? You shouldn’t. Go to the movies, talk to that cute boy and just breathe. The people that matter don’t mind and the people that mind don’t matter. It will take you a little while to realize that but once you do, it is pretty fantastic.

2. Have courage and be kind

I know it’s hard to be nice to the people who are cruel or rude but being the better person sometimes means kind to those who don’t always deserve it. It’s totally fine not to be everybody’s friend but that doesn’t mean you can’t be kind to everyone. Have to courage to go after whatever you want whether it be friendships, explanations or even small things like conversations. Have the courage to figure yourself out by trying different things, styles and experiences. People may judge or make fun of you for it but it is okay. It’s okay to get rejected, it’s okay to fail and stumble. It’s all a part of life.

3.  It’s okay not to have it all together

Once again, you are FIFTEEN! Planning is your thing right now because you are really excited for the future. I get that, but instead of planning what school you will attend or who you will marry in ten years focus one the four years you have ahead of you. Talk to people, make more friends, go to a few parties, stay out past curfew. Be a teenager! You are going to want New York, London, Paris and maybe even Hong Kong for a couple of years soon and that's great too but for now you just want to be a kid and if that makes you happy, do it. Not wanting what other people want is totally fine, too! If you don't feel comfortable drinking, don't. Do what you want and not what anyone else thinks you should do. Be a kid for as long as you can because growing up kind of sucks. 

4. Don’t depend on someone else to make you happy

I get it, you really like that boy you are dating. That is totally okay but eventually you won’t be head over heels anymore and that’s okay too. Be strong enough to tell him that and move on. Don’t go back just because you are lonely and don’t think that being with someone will make you happier. Don’t be jealous of the girls with boyfriends because it’s really possible they may not be happy as well. Don’t wonder what it would be like to be one of those girls who is having a baby because you are a kid and you will be for a long time. Being with someone else, having a baby, getting married...it all includes another person and you are still a kid. Learning how to be alone is hard and uncomfortable at first but being happy with yourself is probably the best thing ever. You are going to do some amazing things and doing the kind of things you want to do won’t always include someone else. You can’t love anyone if you can’t love yourself first.

5. Thank your family and your best friend. A lot.

When you thought the world was crashing down on you and no one was there, they were. Thank your best friend and remind her that even though she might be going to college before you, being best friends with her means the world to you. It will make both you and her feel a lot better. Thank your mom and dad for everything they do for you because you’ll eventually find out how hard the world is without them right beside you. Thank them, cherish them always and never forget that these are the people that mean the most to you in the entire world.

6.  Expect greatness!

I wish I could tell you everything. That after my freshman year in college, everything has finally come into place. I don’t. I’m far from figuring everything out but I’m happy. Like incredibly, insanely happy so I figured why not? Why not tell you some things that could help you be happier too? I don’t know everything but I’ll tell you what I do know. Being alone is probably the weirdest and best thing you will ever do. Your best friend will always be there no matter what and that is possibly the greatest thing ever. Your family is everything and their love and support makes life a lot lighter, brighter and better. Graduation is going to be the best day of your life, enjoy it and take more pictures. Moving away is hard but meeting new people and being away will make so much of a better person. You are going to do such amazing things. People told you that you would but you never believed it. Believe it, baby. You’re going places and I can’t wait to see where we end up.

I know you may not want to hear some things I have to say but trust me, in a few years you will have wished you had someone to tell you these things. I’m still figuring myself out so I can’t tell you that you will but I can tell you that you will have to work a little harder but it will be SO worth it. You will be happy even when things are really rough and you’ll realize that family, friends and happiness is everything. 

Here are some minor details that you should maybe also consider:

Do NOT bleach your hair, it will take years to grow back healthy and honey, it didn’t even look cute.

Stop wearing makeup. Your skin is great and that extra fifteen minutes you get to sleep in is much more satisfying than looking cute for anyone other than yourself.

Yoga pants will become your best friend so stop buying those incredible overpriced jeans. Your butt is going to grow, anyways.

Putting your hair up is way easier than curling it or straightening it. The messy look will be in very soon, I swear.

Don’t do sports. You suck at them and you don’t like them anyways. Just go to the gym instead.

Your boobs will come in and your braces will come off. The acne will stick around but that is what concealer is for.