Dear Freshman Year Josie,
As I sit down to write this farewell letter, I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with gratitude for all the moments you and I have shared. We've laughed, cried, stumbled, and triumphed together, navigating the maze of adolescence as we’ve walked through high school corridors.
You’re about to walk through the door of ninth grade, unsure if this is the place you should be, but I’m here to tell you it is. The place you dreaded going to for so long is what you call home today.
In a few weeks, you’re going to get diagnosed with anxiety and depression, but I’m here to say it’s not the end of the world. You will survive and be stronger because of it. Life will shift, and it will be uncomfortable, but just like all change, it will ultimately make you a better human who gets pain on an emotional level.
You’ll lose some people you love, which will hurt; I’m not here to sugarcoat it. But I am here to tell you it gets easier.
During your sophomore year, you’ll start hanging out with this girl whom you’ve known since fifth grade, and she will quickly be the only person there for you when no one else is. She will be your source of laughter, your biggest supporter, the person you go to when you just need to cry, and the place you feel the most at home. She will quickly become the person who reminds you that you’re not walking through life alone.
It gets complicated in junior year; you’ll experience your first breakup and care a lot about grades. But it doesn’t matter. You’ll receive your UGA acceptance letter and start taking classes on campus. This is where you’ll be exposed to what life looks like as an adult. You’ll have multiple breakdowns about how hard it seems, but you’ll have days when you can only think about how amazing your time as a full-time student at UGA will be.
Senior year is by far my favorite. Sports will start, thanks to your fantastic mama, and volleyball will suck. You’ll begin to hate the sport you once loved, but don’t blame yourself or anybody else for that; know that it’s just a part of change. You’ll be in your second year of dual enrollment, and as much as you wish you could have gotten into your dream school, you will start to get excited about your future life as a bulldog. You’ll meet your roommate, start finalizing grades, and do all the last. You’ll also meet a fantastic guy who finally treats you the way you’ve always deserved. He becomes a tremendous example of Jesus’ love and reminds you daily of that.
But in the end, here’s my most important reminder: cherish every moment because in three weeks, you’ll be saying goodbye to the people you first loved, the place you’ve called a second home, the parents who helped you and supported you every step of the way. As bittersweet as it seems, remember to keep going even when you want to give up because in four years, you’ll be sitting here wishing it was day one all over again.
Love,
Senior Year Josie
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