A Word To The Wise

Dear Future Me,

When I was told to write a letter to my future, one-year-older self I was sceptical of the impact it would really have. What could I possibly achieve (or hope to achieve at least) in a mere year? To pass my first year at uni was probably my first thought. To make more friends? To meet One Direction and have Harry Styles fall madly in love with me? To become Mrs Styles within the year? Doubtful. (The wedding would take at least a year to plan after all!)

However, I recently read Stephen Fry’s letter to his 16 year old self in which he referred to parts to the 1973 letter he wrote to his future self. (Still with me?) It made me remember how different I currently am to my 16 year old self. I know it was only 3 years ago but I’m confident I’ve changed considerably since then. That’s not the only thing I’m confident about. I’ve become more confident as a person in general. I’m more mature (for the most part), I’ve seen more, heard more, done more than when I was 16. So I’m writing this letter because A) it’s part of a task for uni, and B) because I actually will have changed in that one year and here’s what I hope happens:

I hope you have worked hard in year 1 and passed the year, of course. I would be thrilled if you were the best in your class because go hard or go home, right? But I know how stressed you get so I won’t disown you or anything if you’re not a Hermione Granger level student. I hope you’ve produced some kickass pieces of journalism for your course and really make people remember you for your work.

I hope you’ve made some good friends at uni because I am so done with being worried that no one will want me in their group during group projects.

I know you’ve matured somewhat, and I hope that means you’re done obsessing over celebrities… Just kidding, I would never do that to you. However, I would hope you’ve matured enough to be civil to everyone, even if they get on your nerves.

I hope you’ve got a job, because I have expensive taste and no money right now. Also, I feel super guilty when I borrow money off mum and dad, and having a job will make you more independent.

I want you to have met amazing people and practice your interviewing skills, especially on camera. I also want you to be more approachable because Mr Grumpy is not a good look on an almost 20 year old lady. I think that will help you become a better journalist and allow more people to open up to you.

I hope you’re still writing for Twitcelebgossip.com because it’ll give you great experience in the digital journalism world and I also want your blog to have lots of readers by now. It’s time to get your name out there, professionally speaking.

I hope, more than anything, that you don’t give up writing for pleasure. I know it’s hard to get started again after hitting a wall (metaphorical wall of course. Don’t drink and drive) (Also, I don’t know how to drive yet so learn how to drive). I hope, as I have always hoped, that your work (i.e. one of your many nonacademic projects) becomes recognised and appreciated, as it should.

And above all, I urge you to keep your head up and carry on through the bitter times, as you continuously prove you’re so good at doing.

Thanks for reading (although it would be kinda rude for you to discard your own letter), and I’m sorry for the parts that I know you will cringe at.

Divya