A Letter to my Past Self

Dear high school Raina,

It’s been about a couple of years since you graduated from high school. So much has changed and you’re in a place where you probably didn’t think you’d end up. Now, you’ve graduated from undergraduate and are currently continuing your education to get a MS in Marketing Management. Yes, you decided to switch your major from biology to marketing right after high school, disregarding your long-time dream of becoming a pediatrician.

Do you regret it? No. Changing your major has probably been one of the best decisions you’ve made as a teen. You were able to graduate from college a semester early, work for various local companies, and make a bunch of new friends. Your college experience was a roller coaster, but that’s a story for another time.

You’ve done a lot of things since high school and I’m proud of ourselves for it. You got your first job at Liliha Bakery, you were offered jobs by higher management, and much more. You're still in contact with most of your friends from high school. Some of the people you weren't as close to became your best friends. Your old friend group drifted apart, but you still get together once in a while. So that's great.

Yet, there’s one thing you often forget about: to slow down. You haven’t changed in that particular aspect of your life. Always planning for the future, making decision based on how you think it’d benefit you. It’s okay to slow down; you’re still young. It's okay to take your time on things in life. Piece of advice: don't stress too much about where you'll be in 10 years. Live your life in the moment and just make the memories you wanna make.

Love always,

Raina

January 31, 2022