Love Who You Are Right Now by Audrey

Love Who You Are Right Now by Audrey - September 2022 Scholarship Essay

I watch my thirteen-year-old self sit down with a group of tweens on their phones in the cafeteria. I know this actually happened five years ago in middle school, but I don’t even remember the names of anyone sitting at the table next to me. Little Me is talking to the other girls, but they don’t respond. Under the table she holds a well-worn copy of The Hobbit, and I know she’s been reading it for the last few months. Instead of pulling out her book, she pulls out her phone, and absentmindedly opens and closes it so as not to look left out.
Unnoticed by those in the lunchroom, I tap her on the shoulder. She looks up, startled, and I sit down with her, ready to give her some much-needed advice. “Audrey, don’t be ashamed of finding a nice quiet spot and reading your book!”
Little Me looks around, “But I don’t want to sit alone.”
I grab the book and place it on the table with a solid thump. “To be honest, you aren’t going to remember any of these people when you’re older. But you will remember The Hobbit.”
“What’s so important about The Hobbit?”
“This isn't about Bilbo, it’s about doing what you love. Reading. Sewing. Solving Math Problems. And I’m not saying to cut yourself out of people’s lives, but you shouldn’t feel any shame for doing what you love. If you do what you love, you’ll find people that will love you for just that!”
“But why are you telling me this?” Little Me asked. “If you’re from the future, shouldn’t you be telling me lottery numbers?”
“Pfft. I can’t do that. Anyway, you know our memory sucks. I just want to make sure that you have self-acceptance. You can make amazing friends who will love to hear your opinions about books and debate the fine details about Star Wars. Ya, it’s a little uncomfortable to sit alone sometimes. I still encourage you to try making friends, but find people who will respect you! And the first person that should respect you is yourself!”
Little Me shyly gazed at me. “Are you me, all grown up?”
“Well, not all grown up, but trust me, you want to finish that book, and you absolutely should! Learn to love who you are right now, and you will never be alone.”
Thirteen-year-old Audrey looked across at her table and back at her book. “Alright, I’ll read my book in the cafeteria, and I’ll volunteer to solve math equations on the board in class today.”
Little Me turned to thank her older self, but I had already vanished. I thought to myself, “We’ll do great things, and we’ll never be truly lonely.”