Dear Future Self,
It’s crazy to think that the end to a decade REALLY started off with something new. 2020 took the world by storm and especially, you. Now I know it is easier to focus on the bad since there were SO many, but there were some memorable moments that you couldn’t have had if it weren’t for the pandemic. This past year was truly a time where people had a chance to take a step back and think about family, friendships, and well, yourself. Although it started off as an early spring break, it quickly escalated into months and months of quarantine. I didn’t realize it then, but I was miserable. I barely talked to anyone and was locked up in my room all day. Online school didn’t help that much either. Don’t get me wrong, I was doing fine in school. Getting all my homework done, studying, and even passing tests. However I was stuck on an endless cycle of school and my bed. It was only till this year, 2021, where my mental health improved. It took some time but after adjusting to this new way of life, I got to focus on what matters more important than school. During the middle of the year, I found out who my TRUE friends are and those who were only friends with me because they had no one else. High school is a weird place where you can be friends with someone in class, but won’t even bat an eyelash to you in the halls. I was lucky enough to have friends that talked to me in and outside of class. Yet there are always some people that you just can’t get close enough with where they stay forever. People come and go out of your life and you just have to accept it. If you really want them to be a close friend, then both parties have to give in the effort. This does not mean that it doesn’t hurt when they do leave. For now I guess you have to cherish the memories (worth remembering) and maybe hope that in the future you can connect once more. I suppose the purpose of this letter is to not dwell on the past where you can make more memories in the future. I just have to make sure that who I choose to be a trusted friend is someone I don’t get weird feelings from when I first meet them. I usually have a good sense when it comes to people, so as long as I go with my gut, I am certain I will be fine later on. I know that I have changed as a person over 2020, so come next school year, I hope I can show more of myself to people. Here’s to making more friends and being yourself throughout everything! Your past self is wishing you the best of luck!!! 

Sincerely,
Present self you