If I Could Write a Letter to Me

Dear Justin,

With graduation coming up, you’re getting pretty anxious for the change ahead. It feels like a train is coming, and they aren't even going to stop to pick you up, you just have to grab it and hold on for the ride. I wanted to write a letter to your former self throughout the years to reflect upon the decisions you made, both good and bad. 

Freshman Year: You went a little wild. You made a lot of reckless decisions, but you needed those to learn some lessons. Coming out was hard, but I think you waited for a good time. Coming out in high school would have given you a very different path, and it worked out to find your identity in a new environment. You can now call yourself a very proud member of the gay community. You figured out exactly who you are and you no longer care what people think of you for who you will love. 

You should have done better in bacc core classes. Failing your WR 121 class because you asked out that straight guy & refused to go to back afterwards was embarrassing on way too many levels. Although, you did retake it to get an A+ and also met Hannah who gave you the best birthday present a classmate has ever gotten you. So that one’s a toss up. All of the other D’s and C’s could have at least been B’s and C’s though, if we’re being honest.

Sophomore Year: This year was a good year for you. You had amazing friends and mostly good memories. This was the year that you fell in love, or at least the closest you’ve ever gotten. Although you lost him, and were sure you were going to die, you didn’t. You grew stronger from it and you really did have the time of your life this year. It was the first year of true independence. No parents and no RAs giving you any rules. Plus, you lived like 3 minutes away from Winco. You dealt with some conflicts within your friend group, but life without conflict doesn't exist for you. It’s about time to accept that. You're dramatic.
Shout out to Emma, Kev, Austin, and Maria this year. I wouldn’t have gotten through this year without you and we had some of the best times our friend group ever saw this year. Hikes, dinners, and swimming at North Pointe. It was all a blast and I have mostly good memories from this year. 

Junior Year: This year had its ups and downs. You also went through a pretty intense party phase this year. This is the year that you moved into the 442 and really became close with the group of friends that you’re graduating with, and the ones that have already graduated. The Maddie/Gabby/Kay crevice was a big part of this year along with the house. This was also the year that JJ became your GBF 4 lyfe. If I had one thing to correct, the beginning of this year is when one certain individual surfaces. You never really talk to him but you do see him all the time. Make a move sooner. I’m not saying it would have definitely worked out, but I think he was the guy you were looking for. You tried your 5th year, but by that time you were too late and now you’ll never know. You move on just fine, but there will always be that what if. 

Your new friends embraced you with open arms though, so overall a great year. Adam, Jacey, Marco, Phill, Meevs, and Dom welcomed you into their home and helped you through the downs. You needed it, and it was very appreciated to have that support group. You also found your passion this year! And Tyler came into the picture. Near the end of the year, you became producer of Glimpses with him and found out that you enjoyed video production. This is the spark to whatever career you choose to follow now. 

Senior Year: You learned some tough lessons this year. You lost one of your very best friends and it stung pretty bad. You let your emotions cloud your judgement, but I think you needed to learn this lesson through the experience. It wasn’t your favorite, but you came out a stronger person because of it. 

Your personal life took a very drastic turn, but your semi-professional life was cruisin’. You were producer of your short film group all year long and kicked butt at it. You put your heart and soul into that group and met some fantastic people. Shout out to the Glimpses crew for being so amazing and helping us make some pretty decent college shorts. You found your calling with leadership this year too, and at the end of it all applied for KBVR-TV Station Manager.

The Victory Lap: I’m proud of the accomplishments done this year. You really grew up, and I didn't know that if that was ever going to happen. You learned a lot about leading groups of people, and had some major meltdowns in your office at times, but pushed through it all. You probably joined too many committees, but you love helping out and you did a TON of that this year. 

I can’t thank my student leaders, producers, staff, and co-workers enough for making this year extra amazing; I wouldn't be where I was without all of you. The move to the SEC was so hectic, but very rewarding in the end, and we are about to be a part of the very first live broadcast out of the new studios!

This was also the year when great grandma AND your first grandparent died. Grandma Jean was fast. Too fast. And you didn't get the goodbye that you wanted, but you’re doing okay now. You still think about her all the time, but that’s pretty normal I hear. 

Ultimately, you’re ready to move on. You went to college. You did the things. You won the points. Sometimes you were having a blast and other times you were crying so hard, you were sure that tomorrow would never come. But it always did. If I named every person that made this experience so wonderful, this blog would be pages longer, so I’ll just thank the people that helped me through it all. You know who you are, and you know what you mean to me. I’m excited to see what the next chapter of my life is going to look like because this one is wrapping up pretty darn fast. I can’t wait to see what I’m writing to myself ten years from now.

Sincerely,

Justin