Letter To 13 Year Old Self

This is a sequel to my pride story, which is my most viewed and recommended story on Medium so far. But instead of this post being a story, I thought I would do something different. I thought I would write a letter to my 13 year old self giving myself advice based on my past experiences explained in my last post. There are many things I wish I knew back then and I think this letter will reflect that. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for all your views and recommendations on my last story.

Dear 13 Year Old Self,

I want to start this letter out by telling you that what you are experiencing right now is not your fault. A lot of teens are bullied during their middle school years. But the best thing you can do is just need to ignore it. I know it maybe difficult but if you don’t respond to the bullying, those girls may realize that they aren’t bothering you and they may grow bored and leave you alone. What they’re saying about you is not true, so there is no reason to listen to them. If you absolutely can not ignore the bullying or if gets worse, you may want to tell an adult you trust. Whether its a teacher or even your parents. Keeping the bullying issue to yourself will only make you feel worse, so it’s best to let an adult know so they can help you. Remember, it’s ok to ask for help.

I also want to let you know that having autism is not something to feel ashamed of. I know you may feel like a freak and feel isolated from your friends. But having a disability is something you shouldn’t be ashamed of. Lots of famous people have disabilities such as Stevie Wonder and even Beethoven. They didn’t let their challenges get in the way of their dreams and neither should you. The best thing you can do to feel good about yourself is find something you are good at and excel at that to the best of your ability. I know you enjoy music and have been playing the piano since third grade and you are a member of the 7th grade choir. Maybe you can try taking your musical interests to the next level. You can try taking voice lessons along with the piano or even try composing your own music. You can also try joining more clubs at school and spend time with students who enjoy doing the same things you do. This might help you make some new friends. Don’t get frustrated if something doesn’t work out at first, just keep trying and reaching for the stars. You really can do amazing things despite having a disability. All you have to do is believe in yourself.

Another thing I want to tell you is it’s ok to tell people that you have a disability. You don’t need to keep it a secret forever. I know it maybe hard for you to come out. But coming out is the first step to feeling good about yourself. If people don’t accept you for who you are, they aren’t really your friends. Friends are people who love you know matter what and won’t treat you differently because you have a disability. Try confiding in just one friend first. If that goes well and they accept you for who you are, open up to a few more friends. I know this maybe hard for you but once you open up about your disability to a few close friends, you may feel more comfortable discussing your challenges in public and may even gain some self confidence.

I know you will go on to do amazing things with your life. All you need to do is believe in yourself, set goals and never give up on any of your dreams.

Sincerely,

Your 23 year old self