Letter to My Freshman Self
A graduating senior reflects on the journey taken by the Class of 2022.
Dear Younger Me,
You did it. You finally made it into high school after all the years you’ve spent counting down the days until you could finally call yourself a highschooler. As you begin, a word of advice — it is nothing like the 2000’s high school movies you always watch.
Freshman Year
Don’t be afraid to step out of the box a little. One thing that I found is that there are really no popular kids. Everyone has their little groups, and you just need to find your own, which you will. In freshman year, you are going to feel a little out of place, but just know to make the best out of it. It might be boring, but it will be over before you know it. You’ve heard this saying a lot in the past and didn’t believe it, but you will soon find out.
Freshman year, you are going to feel a little out of place…it will be over before you know it.
Sophomore Year
You’re going to gain a little more confidence and try out for cheerleading. (Here’s the craziest part: you are going to make it and become co-captain.) Honestly, this will be the best decision of your life. You’re going to meet so many new people, learn, and do so many things you never thought you’d be doing in your entire life, and you are going to love it. I never thought I would love throwing people in the air, but look at me now.
You didn’t get named “Beastmode Backspot” for nothing.
I wish I could say it goes away right away, but that’s not the case. You are going to miss half your year of school and be locked up in your house for what seems like eternity.
Junior Year
Wow, I don’t even know where to start. Basically, there is going to be this big virus that takes over the world and changes life as you know it. I wish I could say it goes away right away, but that’s not the case. You are going to miss half your year of school and be locked up in your house for what seems like eternity. After a few months, you make the hardest decision, to quit the cheer team and start at a new school, one where you meet some interesting kids and make good friends. You’ll even have your first boyfriend, but don’t get too excited because it doesn’t last very long. (No worries, though. It hurts him more than it hurts you.)
Senior Year
Everything starts to open up again, and you get a small glimpse of hope that things could possibly go back to somewhat normal. Cheer season is back on, and you can again attend school in person. We still have a mask mandate, but it goes away after the first semester. (Thank the Lord.) It gets so stuffy having your whole face in a mask that doesn’t even match your clothes half the time. You are going to experience Friday night lights again, but this time as a cheerleader, and it’s going to be just as amazing as you thought when watching all the games as a freshman.
Homecoming brings the best spirit week you will ever have. You will even dress up as Nicki Minaj, and it is AMAZING. Mid senior year, there are going to be a few rough patches, but honestly, keep your friends close because the ones that you thought would stick forever slowly drift away. At the end of the day, it’s okay because you will gain two more amazing ones that you will love hanging out with, and you’ll even get the attention of that certain boy you have had your eye on for a while. Before you know it, you will be writing this letter to your freshman self, about to graduate and looking back to all the great memories you made. Stay young, have fun, and don’t let anyone or anything change who you are because when people see the real you, they will love you just as much as you love showing them.
xoxo — your Future Self
P.S. Writing this actually made me feel like I was the main character in one of those 2000’s high school movies, closing the laptop and ending the movie.
Cambria Pizzuto is a senior in the graduating class of 2022! She will attend college this fall in pursuit of a teaching career.
