Feeling 22

In the infamous words of Taylor Swift, “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22”. In my not-so-famous words, “HOLY SHIT I’M 22.” What happened?!—Life I guess. And, now I'm graduating college! 

Dear 18-year old me,

Be proud of yourself because you’re a lot more brilliant than you think you are.

Finding your passions is going to be hard, but once you do, I promise you’ll thrive. Keep channelling your interests because you can do great things regardless of the path you choose. Other people might seem like they have their lives together, but I’m telling you now, it’s all a lie. In other words, you do you girl, the haters gonna hate. Live unapologetically because saying “sorry” is something women do too often anyway.  Never doubt yourself, and never lose your voice, your opinions matter. 

Self-confidence doesn’t come easy, but comparing yourself to others is a waste of time. Everyone in this world is lost in their own way, so don’t be fooled by those around you. Living life as a woman of color is certainly not easy, but let me tell you, be proud of who you are. Know that being White definitely doesn’t put you on some kind of pedestal of beauty, and you aren’t beautiful because you’re Brown, you’re beautiful because you are. Remember also that there’s more than just physical beauty that makes you beautiful, your free spirit, your wild heart, and creative mind are things to be proud of, don’t hide them. Believe me when I say this, you are enough, and you always have been. 

When it comes to relationships, life won’t get too exciting, but you’ll definitely live and learn, and that’s okay. You might get hurt once in a while, but it’ll make you stronger. However, in the end you’ll know never to settle for less because what you deserve is what you shall find. Remember, you’d rather have someone in your life who’s worth your time and energy and who cares, rather than some asshole who only pretends to care. Be cautious, but be open, and never lower your standards. For now though, focus on the more tangible things, like school and your future, it’ll get you much further. 

College ain’t easy my dear, but let me tell you, asking for help and understanding your strengths and weaknesses is the greatest lesson you’ll learn. College will teach you to realize how you learn, and that everyone learns differently, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed about how you learn. You’ll make a lot of progress in four years and work harder than you ever have, and I promise you it’ll be worth it. 

Keep challenging yourself because I promise you, your potential is much bigger than you think. You’ll have tons of sleepless nights, but life is about sacrifice sometimes, however, at the end, the fruit of hard work is always sweet. When it’s all over, you can even say that you not only graduated, but also wrote an honors thesis! College will also teach you who’s your friend and who isn’t. You’ll learn who the genuine people are, and that regardless of how many toxic people come your way that the people who are always there for you are the ones who are meant to be and stay in your life. You’ll make incredible friends, and make sure you hold on to them because they’re truly one of a kind. 

Life is going to throw you some major curveballs, but stay strong, and remember, you can do anything you want and be anything you want. Life will also give you opportunities and experiences you never dreamed of having and because of those, your future will become slightly more clear. Never forget that other than your cat, time is your best friend. Time will take its course and you'll realize that whatever is meant to happen will happen, so don’t worry. Let yourself live, put yourself out there, and try new things. Because at the end of the day, it’s the experiences that you have in life that shape who you are. For now, I want you to know that you still haven’t figured out your life, or who you are. You also still don’t know where “home” is, and you still hate it when people ask where you’re from. But, you’ll soon learn to find comfort in your confusions and realize that it’s okay not to have answers because in life there are far more questions than answers anyway.  


You don’t need anyone’s validation to know that you’re amazing and you deserve nothing but the best. And while there will be people who put you down, keep your head up. Never loose sight of who you are or your potential, in the words of Tene Edwards, “Brave girl, you were made for the wild…don’t allow society to tame you on it’s leash”. So, keep strutting with your metaphorical red dress on because you were made for greatness.

Love, 

22 year-old me