Letter To My Past Self by Kasey

Letter To My Past Self by Kasey - September 2022 Scholarship Essay

To my past self, “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed,” Waye Dyer. As a senior who is about to graduate there are many days that I spend reflecting on my past years not just in high school, but elementary and middle school. There are countless pieces of advice that I could go back and tell my past self. Be more confident, stop caring what others think, live in the moment, let things go, the list could go on forever. From eighteen year old me to the little girl I used to be, be confident, be you, make your own decisions, never forget that you are the only person that can make the best version of yourself.
To sixth grade Kasey, it's your first year of middle school and your friends are going to come and go as they need. Don’t let the changing of friends affect who you are as a person. As a little girl I was so focused on making every person around me happy that I forgot to make myself happy. I wanted everyone to stay in my life and never wanted anyone to leave. Today, I realize that when people walk out of your life it is not always because of something you did. People are constantly changing their views, what they need from a friendship or ratio, or simply growing apart. This is not something to dwell upon for days but instead a chance for you to go out and meet new people.
To eighth grade Kasey, being a leader is better than being a follower. Stand strong in your own decision and don't always follow what others are doing. Starting high school in a year is easy to follow. To do what everyone else is doing to “be cool” or to “fit in” is not what you want to be known for. There are countless times when it might be easier to give in rather than stand strong but remember what your values are. What you want to be known for and how the decisions you are making now can have an effect on your next four years. As a senior, I want to thank my past self also for making the right decisions and for turning against the peer pressure.
To sophomore Kasey, you only get one chance. You are the only person that can make yourself the best version of you possible. Take the risks, take the chances, test the limits, push boundaries, find yourself and stay true to you. To my past self, I wish that I would have challenged myself more. To push the boundaries and test my limits. The only way to grow is by testing your limits and by pushing yourself beyond what you think you are capable of.
Finally, to my current self, stay true to yourself and don't change for a single person. You are who you are and people are going to love you for that or they will move on. Don’t change your life to fit others expectations. You're the best version of yourself when you are living the life that you want with the people that support you. If there is something that is not bringing you joy or building you up, get rid of it. There aren't enough minutes in your life to focus on negative energy.
To my past, current, and future self, there has been and will always be changes going on. You will continue to grow and change but remembering your values and where you came from and where you are wanting to go will allow you to be the most successful version of yourself. “Keep thriving, keep pushing, preserve. Every day is a new opportunity, and you can take as many days as you need to succeed,” Unknown.