If I could sit beside you right now, my younger self, it would be really helpful for me as it appears that I need this time to catch up with you. But, I would also take the time to listen to your dreams, worries, and humble hopes. As the silence falls, I would tell you what I wish I had realized.
I understand how eager you are to make certain decisions and arrange things according to your dreams. Yet, it is good not to have it all worked out, since the truth is that no one knows what life will bring or what they are doing because life is unpredictable. Growth follows a process, and each phase serves a purpose. You only need to begin, fall, and learn.
I recall how much pressure you placed on yourself. Every performance, grade, and approval has been a reflection of your worth. However, you should wake up because you are more than your accomplishments. Your worth is not determined by your achievements; but merely existing and showing up makes you valuable. Let me remind you to live in the moment rather than focused solely on milestones.
With that stated, be kind to yourself as well. You are doing better than you believe, learn to show yourself the same kindness you show others.
Heartbreak and disappointment are inevitable in life. However, life does not end there; you must remember that each day is an opportunity to live life, whether you fail or succeed. Things that break you will shape you, and scars can tell stories of bravery and resilience.
Keep wondering, be interested, catch sunsets, seek questions, laugh hard, and do whatever scares you. These are the things that will encourage you to focus on the good despite how rocky the path is.
You are going to be fine, I wish I could tell you what I see now, how the things you are worried about will come into place at the right moment, no matter how long it takes, until you can say to yourself, “I made it.”
To my younger self, remember that life is not a race. You have not been left behind; rather, you are in the process of becoming someone you aspired to be and achieve the life you want.