Dear Me from 2020,

It’s an understatement to say this year has been hectic and annoying. But stop worrying about “wasting” this year because ultimately, we did not. Stop validating large accomplishments, perfect grades, or looks as “meaningfulness” in life. I get it, you’re afraid of not measuring up to your expectations and dreams. But constantly worrying about being “unproductive” is NOT going to change anything. 

Without this year, we wouldn’t have:

• Started mediation and working out
• Learned how to ski or drive
• Reconnected with the gang (old friends)
• Established stronger ties with family
• Made new friends
• Finish a dual enrollment class
• Tried D&D 
• Played Valorant, League of Legends, Minecraft Java, and Genshin Impact
• Learned about NFTs and investing
• Watched k-dramas
• And SO much more

You haven’t noticed yet, but we’ve grown, developed, and matured in unimaginable ways. This year brought us a sense of identity, resilience, appreciation, and confidence. If everything was normal, we would’ve never obtained these life-lasting fundamentals. In the long run, I think learning these fundamentals at a younger age is a privilege. Remember, we could have lived decades of chasing our dreams and overlooking our life privileges. If this happened, we wouldn’t be reminiscing over one year, but rather multiple years. Going forward, we are going live and find so much more meaning and acknowledgment in life. This year was about self-investment and I think, that holds so much more valuable than a year of normal school activities and grades. Give yourself more credit and think positively, you’re doing great. 

Sincerely,

Me