Dear 21 year old me,

About a month ago, I was curiously looking through some old blog posts of mine when I came across an entry written two years ago titled "Dear 18 year old me." As a current 18 year old, I was particularly excited to read an entry that summed up my life's aspirations leading up to today in a nutshell. Not only was I surprised that I had no recollection of writing this post, I was stunned that I actually completed what I had set out to do. Some of the goals included making life-long friends in college while keeping the old ones close, finishing a project for once in my life (which I did), and finding something that I'm truly passionate about. The last request from 16 year old me (other than "Stay awesome.") was this: "Look back. Reminisce. Evaluate how things turned out. Look forward. Make plans for the future."

Hence, my letter to you, 21 year old Ashley, is my way of setting goals and making plans for the future.

1. By the time you are 21, I hope you've failed to achieve something you wanted. Let's face it, life came just too easy for you. You've gotten everything you've ever wanted for the most part. I'm not saying that you should drop your life's aspirations and live a vegetable life; I want you to try your best, and then fail. No great man ever lived without having a door shut in his face from time to time. The act of rejection is so infuriating, it pushed him even further to succeed. Whether it be an internship you really wanted or a summer job, I hope they reject you. Thanks to them, you'll be stronger and you'll be great.
2. Please, learn to at least catch a spider. Grow up a bit, why don't you? Don't be so dependent on other people.
3. Did you graduate yet? I know at the time being, the plan is to be in and out of here in 3 years, saving a year's worth of tuition and making good use of all those stressful years of high school AP tests. But I also know that plans change. Maybe you decided to take up 2 minors... or maybe you decided to double major! Maybe you decided to spend a semester abroad... Are you in grad school right now? Working? Whatever decision you make, I hope you've thought it through. I hope it's the best decision you make in the next 3 years.
4. Try new experiences. Travel. Eat weird things. Don't be afraid of the vibrant world around you.
5. Stop obsessing over categorizing yourself and other people. I know... personality tests are intriguing, but they're also addicting. Stop trying to put yourself under a label. Stop questioning your actions and trying to name them because you already know the answer: it doesn't matter what "type" of person you are. You are you. That's what counts. Labeling only justifies your faults, and you know faults are faults. Fix them, don't excuse them.
6. Don't spread yourself too thin. Knowing your enthusiasm, I bet you're willing to play the superwoman role, trying to do everything and anything possible. But remember: quality, not quantity.
7. You've never really been vocal about your opinions. I respect that. Just don't let your opinions change because the vocal people don't agree, unless you have good reason to change your views.  Don't doubt your judgement.  You're old enough. An adult. Form your own opinions. Be skeptical. Make your own decisions.
8. Be rational. Be cautious. Talk things out with people if you need help.
9. Despite condemning you to failing at something you want, I don't want you to be a failure. I hope you've made some commendable achievements in the past 3 years!
10. Look back. Reminisce. Evaluate how things turned out. Look forward. Make plans for the future.

Love,

18 year old Ashley

P.S. Enclosed I have posted a silly picture of me... so 3 years from now, you'll definitely be better looking. Look. I even have the black and white effect on for it to look like "the past."