If you keep up with the good work and be a hard working student, college will be smooth sailing. Now I ’ m 23 and still discovering what I want to do with my life. I want to go to grad school and I still want to travel the world one day. But one thing I do know for sure is that I feel as free as I ’ ll ever be. I also met my girlfriend recently through college. So, to my past self, enjoy college.
January 16 (20 years later)
I almost forgot about this journal. My daughter found it. I looked through it with my four kids. I loved looking back at my journal. It brought back so many memories. To my past self, you will need this: Once you have kids, you will never sleep again. You ’ ll see what I mean. Anyway, I got married to my girlfriend and it was a beautiful wedding. My job is a desk job. It ’ s not very exciting, but, hey, at least there ’ s coffee. Though I never got to travel the world as I wanted to, at least I got four great kids. My family is my everything. I love them and I ’ ll do anything for them. One of my best moments of life was when I became a dad. The moment when they told me it was a girl, I started crying. When I held her, I couldn ’ t help but grin. She was perfect in every way. As she smiled for the first time and grabbed my finger with her tiny little hand, I already loved her. I treasure those memories of my kids ’ milestones. I keep those memories near and dear to my heart and I always will. To my past self: cherish these moments in your life. They will help you whenever you feel lost or out of place.
November 5 (47 years later.)
Today is my 90th birthday. I can ’ t believe how far I ’ ve come. My kids are now all grown up and have kids of their own. Today, of all days, I ’ m surrounded by my loving family. How lucky am I! As I opened my birthday gifts from my grandchildren, I started to cry. My journal from all those years ago. My daughter kept it and gave it to her children, then they gave it to me. After my birthday, I looked through the journal one last time. I had a big imagination for a seven year old. This imagination never became reality. Oh my past self, I was wrong. As we get older, we only get tied down more and more by age. But never let your age define you. I know I can ’ t do as much as I could then, but I ’ m the happiest I will ever be. I never got to travel the world, but that never stopped me from my other dreams. To my past self, I have my last advice for you before I leave: Life can be rough; just hang on and enjoy the ride. Look at life through your achievements, not your failures. If you only look at your failures, you will never be happy with yourself. Love yourself because you are you. You are enough. Lastly, never let any boundaries hold you back from what you love. I did, and I regret it. Boundaries may be scary, but know you will never be alone, and there will always be people to support you. Once you cross those boundaries, don ’ t let anything stop you from crossing the next.
Your friend,
Benjamin Lucas Smith
Zoe Blum, Eighth Grade
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