The Decade Challenge : A Letter To My Younger Self
Dear Syera,
I would give anything to go back in time and love you wildly. You were always such a bold, caring, and empathetic soul. I’m sorry that back then I was too focused on being liked by others, and neglected the true essence of your existence -to radiate beauty, love, and compassion first to yourself, and to others.
Right now, I know you think you have life all figured out- who you are, what you want to be, and how life will play out in the next 5 to 10 years. You’ve always been a dreamer babygirl. And I don’t ever want you to lose that.
Now more than anything, I want you to always hold true to these words:
You’re the most amazing human I’ve ever met.You’re smile light up my world and no language can express the love I have for you. You are beautiful, talented and beyond my wildest dreams. The world is your oyster, and you are capable of achieving your heart desire- regardless of whatever life throws your way.
Remember those words, because life as you know it today, will change.
Academics
I know right now, you’re focused on doing well in school because of your grades in high school matters for college. Gosh, you’ve always been an overachiever! And I love you for it. You will still have that trait 10 years from now.
You will graduate from high school with honors, but you won’t go to the college of your choice. You will get accepted, but due to financial reasons, you’ll go to St.Cloud State University. You will hate it at first, and feel like life cheated you out of what was meant to be yours. But St.Cloud State University will turn out to be a gift.
You’ll make amazing friends, join clubs and organizations. You’ll share an apartment with friends, and travel to South Carolina during the summer for a mission trip. You’ll struggle in deciding what to major in, you’ll literally explore five different majors before finally deciding on Management HR and Information Systems. You’ll become a National Stem Scholar, and start your career in health care.
I know this is surprising-because at this moment, you see yourself as a lawyer. And when you go to college, you will pursue that desire the first couple months, but that desire will die out and birth out the confusion of not knowing what to do with your life.
And trust me, even 10 years from now, you’ll still be figuring out what you want to do with your life.
So live a little, balance school and social life.
Friendship
A good chunk of the friends you have right now will be your lifelong friends even after college. Cherish them, love them, and be there for them. They are part of your support system.
Relationships
You know that guy you’re crazy about now, he won’t even matter 10 years from now. He will play a major role in your life years to come- but he won’t be the one. He will shape how you perceive men and relationships- and I’m sorry, but he will be your first heartbreak.
And this heartbreak will change you. Your heart will grow cold and you will build up walls and gates that you won’t even allow yourself to enter. But you will love again. You will fall in love twice in college, once during freshman year and the spring of your sophomore year.
The first love will make you feel alive, vibrant and willing to try anything. This love will birth your spontaneous side that you didn’t know existed. He will be someone who is totally different from you, wild-even. But you will love it. This love will bring a spark to your eyes, and leave you smiling. But it would be short-lived, but one of the best six months of your life.
The second love will happen spring of your sophomore year. It’ll be calm, loving, different from anything you’ve ever experience. You will love each other almost unhealthy. You both will be good for each other in the first year and a half, but the latter half of the relationship will grow toxic.
This relationship will change you. You will lose yourself, your identity and what matters to you in life to this relationship. You will go through depression and for the first time, be forced to learn how to be alone.
It will be the best of times and the worst of times.
Purpose
The aftermath of this relationship will birth to a new purpose. You will have a strong desire to help others heal from a broken relationship and to fall in love with themself. You will fall in love with personal development and aspire to help others to become the best version of themself.
You will start a blog, and youtube channel with the hope of someday becoming a motivational speaker and author.
It’s crazy how dreams change huh?
But you will be okay.
On Career
After college, you’ll begin your career and learn so much about adulthood than you could ever imagine. You’ll be on a team that feels like family and have coworkers that support your ideas and contributions. You’ll have a good work-life balance…finally becoming the businesswomen you always admire on TV.
Adventure
Syera, you’ll become a wanderlust.
But this shouldn’t surprise you. You’ve always been curious to explore and try new things. You’ll visit Jamaica, go on a cruise trip to the Bahamas, have your first solo backpack trip to Europe, celebrate your 25th Birthday in Mexico, and tour Europe for the second time along with Morocco.
You would meet amazing, down to earth people and experience different cultures.
At 25, you’ll become a homeowner. You would buy your first townhome in the summer of 2019. And man it will feel so good, but it will also come with its own challenges.
So I know the next decade has a lot in store for you. But I want you to know that you will be okay. You’ll have good and bad days, but God got you.
Stay Humble and love others.
Love Your Future Self,
SyeraLove
