A Letter to 14 Year Old Me
Welcome to high school in the digital age. The time where you get up, go to school, come home, and get online and socialize with everyone you just left at that building. The time where high school doesn’t just end at 3pm. I know you’re already addicted to Facebook and Twitter, and you are about to become addicted to Instagram too.
Let me tell you, social media can be great. It’s a great tool to stay connected, learn, grow, and create. But the habits you have right now are going to destroy your well being if you do not stop now. The obsession with staying connected is going to keep you up at night and make you lose sleep. It is going to distract you when you’re in class and prevent you from learning and growing as a person. It is going to make you stressed and anxious all the time.
But it doesn’t have to. Looking back now, there is some advice I want you to know. Some advice that will help you navigate the rest of your journey through high school in the digital world, and the years to come beyond that.
- Don’t compare yourself to others.
This is probably the hardest one, yet it will be the most important to you. Remember to think of social feeds like a highlight reel. We only see the good stuff in people’s lives, and very rarely do we ever see the bad. We do not know what is really going on in their lives. Comparing yourself with everyone will only bring you stress, anxiety, and a lower self confidence.
2. Stop worrying about numbers so much.
There is always going to be someone with more. More followers. More likes. More shares. It’s okay. The popular girls in school are going to have more followers and they are going to get more likes, but that doesn’t mean you should change who you are to try to get these numbers too.
3. Unplug
You’re going to get FOMO. No doubt about it, you will have a fear of missing out. Missing a conversation, an important moment, or an interaction sounds like the end of the world to you. But it’s important for your mental health to unplug. Social media is going to interrupt your sleep, your homework, and your life experiences. Turn it off. Keep your phone away from your bed before you go to sleep. Do not have it near you when you study. Keep it off during class. Pay attention to the people really around you.
4. Do something about harassment.
I know you will never harass someone, or cyberbully them. But there are going to be plenty of times you will see it happen to others. Do not be afraid to reach out to them and make sure they are doing okay. Report the accounts you see harassing people. Do not just scroll by and pretend it doesn’t exist.
Remember: social media is not your life. It is a PART of your life. I can tell you now, living in a world where people are glued to their screens is not fun. I can’t tell you the countless amounts of times spent with friends and family where no one talks to each other. They scroll their Instagram, respond to Facebook messages, or the best is when they tweet you when you’re sitting beside them. Don’t be like that. Start practicing safe social now before it takes over your life.
Sincerely,
Your older self
