Everyone knows Brad Paisley’s song Letter to Me. It was definitely a tear jerker for me around this time last year. I still can not believe it has almost been a year since the class of 2013 graduated. We are two months out from being through with our freshmen year of COLLEGE. That means in less than four years we are going to be thrown out into this “real world” thing everyone keeps talking about. Scary. After all of these things hitting home recently, I decided to write a letter to myself. Not just for me but for other people a few years younger than me. I’m hoping someone will read it and realize the things that matter so much to them right now may not matter at all in four or five years. So, here it goes:

Brittany Elizabeth Barker, 

Going into high school you are going to be scared to death. You have this idea that the next four years are going to be exactly like Taylor Swift’s song Fifteen. In some ways they are but really they are going to be one big roller coaster ride. I know you hate roller coasters so brace yourself. Some of the “friends” you make freshmen year you won’t even be speaking to by senior year. But it’s okay. You will have multiple people who constantly try to bring you down and tell you you’re not good enough. No worries, senior year you prove them all wrong. Don’t let people walk all over you. It will take you a while to accomplish this skill but once you do, you are going to be so much stronger. As scared as you are that you might fail Algebra 2, you are going to pass that EOC with a 94. Even though your teachers tell you you will use these skills in real life, you won’t. At least the future you has yet to find a moment where she did. Take every chance you can to dance. That “Platinum” award you want so bad? You earn it on your solo your senior year and it is one of the best moments of your life. You become a role model to so many young children that you are going to teach. Every time you walk into the studio to teach them all your worries will go away. Enjoy your senior competition season and recital. Those moments go by so quickly and you will miss it more than anything. Now, could I really write a letter to you without mentioning boys? Of course not. You are going to meet one sophomore year and be overtaken by the fact that he was older than you and noticed you and seemed so perfect. You are going to think you are in love and he’s the one. He’s not. The breakup two and a half years later is going to be hard but it’s okay because both of you are better off without the other. As hard as it is to believe, your parents will always figure everything out and know what is best for you. Follow your heart but never look over those gut feelings telling you something isn’t quite right. You are going to worry yourself to death on if you get into Meredith and you do! Deciding to go there will be one of the best decisions you make. Go to every football game, enjoy every prom, and never take time with your true friends for granted. On graduation day it will rain and you will be upset. As you walk across the stage (at an extremely fast speed) you will have the biggest smile on your face and feel as though the sun is shining directly on you. I know high school is hard and you cringe every time you hear someone say “these are the best four years of your life.” Don’t worry, for you, those “best four years” will be at Meredith. You will cry like a baby telling your friends and family “see you soon” and every time you come home you’ll tear up driving back down the drive way. You will meet so many amazing girls and find the best friend you could ask for. You will find the courage to double major in Business and Dance, getting yourself that much closer to accomplishing your dreams. You were meant to be an Angel. The main thing you need to realize here is that “it’s okay.” Every obstacle that comes your way you will overcome it. whether it takes a day or three years. You will be fine. You will make your parents proud. You will make yourself proud. You will become confident, determined and ready to take on your future. Just believe in yourself. You are your own worst enemy. You can do this. 

Love,

Brittany Elizabeth Barker (2014)

After writing (crying through) this, I realized that I would not be the young woman I am today if I did not go through hard times as a young teen. In July my baby sister turns 13. I hope I can be a positive influence and set a good example for her. I hope I can help her in every way possible through these next few years whether it be on boys, homework or the hardest decision of high school – prom dress shopping. We all think life would have been 100 times easier “if we had only known what we know now.” In reality it would not have. Everything happens for a reason. We just have to wait for the Lord to show us those reasons and cherish every moment. 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11