Letter to Yourself at 16

[DuWayne Steurer]

Dear me,

 

DON'T spend your 20's fretting about not going to college right out of high school. You DO eventually go, and it works out for the better.

 

DO rent that apartment on Jackson St. when you're 18, DON'T buy the mobile home. You may think having "your own place" is better than renting and all, but you want to talk about an albatross? (But don't worry, that eventually works out ok too)

 

DON'T take the 17 year old Buick Regal on a driving vacation to Wyoming and South Dakota. You make it back, but just barely. Once that car gets back in your driveway, it never moves again (Except when the junk man comes to buy it from you for 60 bucks)

 

And DON'T worry about not taking the job at GM when your wife's dad tries to get you in. That wouldn't have worked out so well.

[UndraftedFA]

There are a lot of goof ones on here. Some pretty funny!

 

Here is what I would say:

 

Dear me (1995),

 

I am currently 29 writing back to you.

 

First things first. You know when you look at all of the senior pictures of the past grads of high school? You think they really look like dorks but think you will never look like a dork. You think you'll have a picture that will be great for years to come, but in the end, the kids nowadays still laugh at you.

 

You will make the right choice about dating in highschool. You won't. In a class your size the pickings are slim, and there is much more and better girls awaiting after high school.

 

When you do graduate, you will finally date your friends little sister after he leaves for the army. She is a good girlfriend, but like I said, more fish in the sea. You will have your social life open up a lot at about 19 years old. That's when the girls will come. You will have a new date almost every weekend. Eventually the well dries up. If there is one girl that you will really feel like you should have put more effort into it is Michelle. She's the first one you meet after Dawn. She is amazingly beautiful then, and one of the nicest girls you will ever meet. She only gets better looking as the years pass. I don't know if things would have worked, but it is something to try a little harder on. Don't always go with the idea of there will always be more.

 

You will have lots of funny stories. You will start on fire at school, but it didn't hurt too much. Everyone gets a good laugh from that story. You will get busted for drinking the 3rd time you ever drink. It is a great story. It was in a field 1/4 mile from the house, and you asked the cop if that was your flashlight. You parents don't get too upset.

 

In 2001, you are going to dump a ton of money into retirement funds after your 22nd B-day. It will be best to wait a few more months. You will also buy a brand new truck that you hardly use. Be smart, get a used one that doesn't cost much. You will love that blue escort you just bought. You will keep it for nearly 10 years. Also, you think that you will be able to buy a house with cash with the career you had out of tech school, but things will never work out that way. I still don't own a house in 2009.

 

In 2003, you will experience a very rough start to the year. You will lose your 17 y.o. cousin. You will get your "dream job" only to have the company downsize 2.5 months later. You learn a lot that year. You end up with a good job, and you become a much more humble person. Working 88 hours a week probably wasn't the best idea when you were at your first job.

 

In 2006 you move to AZ, where I am now. I am not sure if I like it. I am going to school and working full-time, it makes life rough sometimes. I am going for a Mechanical Engineering degree, which you will never think of once during high school. I think it is better that I waited, even though it seems tough.

 

Overall, you do a good job. A lot of people admire and respect you. There isn't a whole lot to tell you to do different. Maybe start taking classes earlier, so you can go to school at a slower pace while you work. You will feel rushed the older you get. In 2009, you will have a great girl too in case any of the earlier ones don't work out.

 

There are a lot of things in your life that you want to share with others, but some of them pass on before you finish. Work hard on that '67 Mustang you buy so that you can show it to you uncle and grandparents. You just don't know when someone may leave you. Laying and watching an extra hour of TV can add up to a lot of wasted time in your life.

 

Signed,

you (2009)

[sbrylski]

Dear Me,

 

Don't be such a wuss.

 

-Me

Ah, thought of one that the above advice doesn't universally apply. In just about every situation of which I'd like my 16 year old self to know about, the above is the message. Except the following:

 

In your freshman year of college, when Sammie, the girl that's way too hot for you and also doesn't stand a chance because you have the same first name and that's totally awkward, asks you to her room to watch a movie with a cute puppy face, she is NOT just being nice. GO TO HER DAMN ROOM! It will take you a year and a half before you reminisce and realize your mistake (and what an idiot you'll feel like) and she will no longer be in your life.

 

Wow was that dumb.

[NeedMoreFans]

Dear Younger NMF:

 

I'm writing to you as your older self. Nearly 13 years have passed since the 2009 version was 16, and I'm here to tell you that a lot will change. First and foremost, as you go on in your high school life, try to ignore any desire you have to want to date anyone in high school. You will waste your time; wait until college...it is much better, believe me. If you ignore that advice, don't ask the people you did to prom. Instead, ask who you really want to go with, but whom you think already has a date (she doesn't at the time you want to ask her).

 

The friends you have now won't be the friends you end up with as a senior. The group your senior year will be with you for many years to come, and two of them will stand up in your wedding. Speaking of friends, the people you will meet in college will be some of the best, most fun people you will ever meet.

 

When it comes to picking a career, don't listen to dad. If you follow what he says, you won't be happy. I started out with what dad wanted me to do, and I hated it, and it nearly caused me to drop out of college. He sees the dollar signs and that's it. You may not end up getting full time work until your lates 20s, but you'll be happy. Over the course of your 20s, people will constantly ask if you know what your doing...and those people will be your family. Your sister will hit the major life steps a lot earlier than you, but you will get to see a lot of different places, make great friends, experience a lot of stuff, and be a better person in the long run because of it. There will be some highs and lows, but it's ok. By the way, mom will get crazier than she is now.

 

Be warned, there will be a couple of quasi-traumatic events in your life. They may not be traumatic to other people, but they are to you. The same thing that happens to you in late July 1999 will happen to your future wife in July 2006. It's a very strange coinsidence. You'll be fine, as will she, but you will be emotionally scarred for a long time.

 

Go to the Brewer game on September 28, 2008. You will have the chance to buy tickets, but for some stupid reason you decline. The thing that happens will almost make you cry.

 

Don't stop playing baseball. You will miss it dearly when you are 28.

 

Overall, you will change some, but it's all for the good. You will be more laid back and easy going than you are now. But if stuff does bother you, talk about it. Learn that skill. Get a job, now! You need to save money now so you don't have to borrow from mom and dad. Lastly, don't eat so much frozen pizza when you get out of the dorms, and don't buy so much junk when you are in college. Enjoy the next 13 years, and read this when you are 28 to see what you did. Write to me then, when I'll be 41. I'll talk to you then,

 

NMF (2009 version)

[Web Jim Edmonds]

cool letters..a lot of you.