Journal #12: Letter to my Former and Future Selves

In an article/video entitled "What Students Really Need To Hear", a teacher gives his honest view of students and the point of high school. He begins by saying that he worries students are missing the big idea of high school. He tells us that getting good grades and doing school work should not be the focus of high school. They certainly are important, just not the most important. Building character is the most important part of an education, and it's a teacher's job to help with that development. "For some, you quit by throwing the day away and not even trying to write a sentence or a fraction because you think it doesn’t matter or you can’t or there’s no point. But it does. What you write is not the main event. The fact that you do take charge of your own fear and doubt in order to write when you are challenged — THAT is the main event."

Many teens enter school with the mentality that they need to fit in and nothing more. Teens feel self-concious and they want to fix that insecurity by being well liked. It's easy for school work to be put on the back burner when their insecurities are constantly blaring in their heads. It's important for a teacher to challege the thinking of his students. Teachers are doing an incredible diservice to their students if they let them blow off their work. If teachers aren't activly involved in their students development, only a few internally driven students will succeed academically. These students in turn may miss out on a healthy social life, and vice versa with academically challenged students. It's a teacher's job to encourage balance.

Through out high school, I have always been academically sucessful. I have grown up with my parents telling me that I was smart, and I held my self to very high standards in school. Even if I got an A minus inclass, my parents would ask me "How can you improve next time?" They weren't being pushy, they simply wanted me to achieve at the high level they knew I could. As my classes increased in dificulty, I have found myself having to put in more work as opposed to relying on natural intelligence. My GPA has remained high, and I have even gained college credit for my classes. I don't think that any of my teachers can question my intelligence. However, I'm sure I can come across as lazy in non challengeing classes. If I understand the subject material, I have a tendency to zone out and work on otherthings. This can definitly come across as disinterested. I don't intend for that, but I have definitely had to work on that.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Freshman Sam,

Good luck tomorrow on your first day of high school! I promise that it gets easier to find your classes (and you will find health class, don't worry). High school is going to be great! And also really awful. You are going to meet some of the nicest people and form some wonderful friendships. But along with those good people, you will meet some straight up mean people. Even though they are rude, that doesn't mean that you need to be rude back. Focus on being the nice, gracious person you are.

There are going to be some cute boys in school. And it's normal to become attracted to them, and flirt, and then to want to find out how they feel. But don't rush things. Relationships aren't all that they are cracked up to be. It's pointless to waste your time on boys who will mean nothing to you in a few months. Don't be in such a hurry to prove anything to yourself. You're adorable. You have a wonderful personality and you're just going to get even more attractive when you get older (thank God, am I right?!). Just because those boys don't take an interest in you, don't you dare think for a second that you aren't good enough. You are good enough. Keep your standards high and make those boys work to reach them. You don't deserve anyone you have to lower your standards for.

Most importantly, work hard, be nice, and be confident. A good work ethic will get you places, and people will notice. No one ever gets to the top by being lazy. Be so darn nice to everyone. There aren't enough genuinely nice people in this world any more, and you need to continue to be that rare breed. And darling, you are fantastic and very talented. Don't be afraid to use the talents you have to do wonderful things.

Believe in yourself. You have what it takes to succeed. Good luck! XOXO.

~Current Sam

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear 50 Year Old Sam,

I hope that you are a kicking grandma by now. Im sure one of your children (my child, our children???) has a cute little baby by now. Spoil that thing rotten; I always enjoyed being my grandma's little princess.

More importantly, I hope that you are happy with your life. I want to know that you are a successful lady, and I'm not talking about money or status. I hope that you have done something meaningful with your life. You have always been a creative, passionate person, and don't you dare settle for a career that makes you unhappy. I want to know that you wake up with excitement and purpose every day.

I will also be very upset if I find out that you aren't still with your husband. I want to know that you have upheld your standards and met a great man who treats you like a queen. He has to make you smile everyday and you need to enjoy his company even in silence. I don't care if your don't have a story book romance, but I need to know that he completes you and makes you feel perfect and special everytime he looks at you. This may be my young, idealized hopes speaking, but I honestly hope that marriage is really like that. At least yours is.

All in all, I don't want you to wake up one day and realize that you are not content with your life. If by some misfortune you do, I hope that you have the courage to make the changes needed. Don't lose your spunk, Grandma Sam. XOXO.

~Current Sam

Images Used:

• http://unmotivatedteens.com/boarding-schools/troubled-teen-schools-in-new-york/