Hi Melissa,
This is going to sound either really creepy or really cringe, but I am you from the future! I’m here to tell you a few things that could really help with whatever is currently going on in our lives. We’re going to go over a few areas where you probably need some help or guidance.
Firstly, don’t waste your time and energy overthinking, stressing, or fighting for people who refuse to change their minds. It’s your time and energy, so don’t let them, or even yourself, take that away from you. Not everyone is meant to understand you, and some people won’t even try to look deeper into situations. You don’t have to keep wasting your energy trying to prove your worth to others. Instead, invest your time and energy in the people who try to understand you and in those who already appreciate and care about you.
Another way to use your time and energy is by focusing on yourself and your academics. I know it may seem impossible to earn straight A’s at Whitney Young, especially since you’re already taking high school-level and honors classes. But I believe you definitely could have earned straight A’s if you hadn’t been so focused on people who drained all your energy. Think about all the time you spent overthinking and worrying about others. Now imagine if you had spent even half that time studying and improving yourself.
Speaking of improving yourself, STOP SKIPPING PRACTICE. You keep using homework, quizzes, and exams as excuses to skip swim and water polo practice. If you haven’t already noticed, you’re falling behind some of your teammates, and you’re not as fast as you used to be. Even though you’re still getting a little faster, it isn’t because you’re consistently going to practice and putting in the work. It’s because you’re skipping practice to “study,” only to end up in the basement watching YouTube while mindlessly lifting dumbbells. Your swimming form and technique aren’t as good as they used to be. Eventually, you’ll start getting injured during meets because you’re trying to power your way to the finish instead of relying on proper technique. It will take a decent amount of time to relearn your technique and even more time to learn new ones.
Manage your time better, and stop doomscrolling every day if you want to protect your peace.
If you need help managing your time, you have your High Jump teachers, your support system, and your sister to help you create schedules and find strategies that work for you. Here are a few tips I can give you: set screen time limits on your phone, make a daily schedule, and use a backward scheduling method. A backward scheduling method can help you plan for assignments and tests. Start by marking the due date of an assignment or the date of a test on a calendar. Then, work backward from that date and schedule specific days to study or complete parts of the assignment. Finally, decide how long you’ll spend studying or working during each session.
I hope this letter has given you some new insights and helpful advice. I really hope you use these tips. Most importantly, remember that you’re still young. Value the free time you have, and spend it with the people you love, not on a blue light–emitting screen.
Sincerely,
Your Future Self
Melissa Hu – University of Chicago Laboratory School – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: Anncapictures – Pixabay