Week One: Letter to my 13-year-old self
OK young Jason, time for a talk. First off lets make it known that at the present time (age 26) things are going well on almost all fronts. Yes, you get a sports car (we are on number two presently and it's YELLOW!) and yes you have a job (also on the second one of those, but we will get to that later).
Alright, first topic: The end of Junior High.
I'm sorry to say that you will just have to grin and bear it for a short while longer. Life will pick up shortly but not until you enter High School. Sorry, but that's the way it goes. There is no cure for terminally awkward.
Next Topic: High School and College.
Here is when your life turns for the better. Marching band will bring out the most true you. Trust me. There are times when the 26-year-old you wishes he could get that part of himself back. Confidence in one area will spill over to everything else. The friends you make in this group will be some of the best and longest lasting friendships you will have. You don't get to see them as much after High School so live it up while you can.
While in school please do me the following favor: SKIP TENNIS!!! Go for a little known sport called lacrosse. Trust me, it's much more fun and rewarding. Plus, you get to wear a jersey to school on game days!
Oh, while we are talking about school I may as well let you in on a little secret....you don't go to Michigan. But that's OK. PSU will turn out to be much more than you could possibly hope for. Even the summer session thing will turn out for the better. Oh, and when the potato girl goes out with you, DO NOT rent Heat. Too long and too boring.
This brings us to our next topic: Girls.
Girls continue to baffle us (the 13 and 26 year old) but I think I can at least help you out. First, you will met some girls in classes or in other places that seem to like to talk to you, or laugh at your jokes. They are not being polite. If you ask them out chances are they will not pull a sword out and cut your head off, or worse laugh at you. Learn to take a risk and please, please, please don't second guess yourself so much over the upcoming years. Over analyzing things will tend to make you hesitate and miss opportunities if you aren't careful. Also, dating in high school doesn't need to be for any other reason then to just have a good time. Don't fall into the "I have to go steady with every girl" thing. It will cause you GREAT torment if you do. Plus, it's just silly.
When you are 18 and in a frat (yes you are a frat guy now who likes beer) feel free to actually talk to the females that approach you. Again, they want something and what they want isn't all that bad, we find that out in our sophomore year ;)
Oh, and the girl you meet your Junior year. Well, I almost don't want to mention anything about that. I could tell you some things to soften what you will go through but I won't. Some things need to be experienced. Just tell her I said "Hi" and spend as much time as you can with her. PS, she will break your heart but you will carry the torch for her for a long time. And this is OK.
Next topic: Life after school.
Hard to believe but we graduated! The bad news is that you don't have a job right away. GET OVER IT!!! You will find a job so enjoy the time you have and pretend it is a vacation. By the way, it's during this time that you find out exactly how much family means to you and how much you mean to them via the "Talk at the Table".
Your first job will bring you much joy and despair, all wrapped up into one. When you are "laid-off" don't sulk! In the next three months you will learn more about yourself then you ever did before. Not all of it is good, but most of it is. Besides, your next job will give meaning to your life in a way you never thought possible. So don't sweat it!
Oh, and those odd panic feelings you get before bed sometimes....get those checked NOW! Trust me.
Final topic: Misc thoughts
- Think motorcycle! (and tire pressure)
- Start lifting weights now! It can be fun
- Don't be afraid to express how you feel. It doesn't lessen people's opinion of you.
- Cry when you feel like it. See above
- When you go to Spring Break and you are asked any question the answer is YES YES YES
That is all I have for you. Even if you choose to ignore everything know that you will be fine. The people you have in your life want to see you succeed but will be there for you even if you don't. And they will still be happy to see you.
Your older self,
J
OK young Jason, time for a talk. First off lets make it known that at the present time (age 26) things are going well on almost all fronts. Yes, you get a sports car (we are on number two presently and it's YELLOW!) and yes you have a job (also on the second one of those, but we will get to that later).
Alright, first topic: The end of Junior High.
I'm sorry to say that you will just have to grin and bear it for a short while longer. Life will pick up shortly but not until you enter High School. Sorry, but that's the way it goes. There is no cure for terminally awkward.
Next Topic: High School and College.
Here is when your life turns for the better. Marching band will bring out the most true you. Trust me. There are times when the 26-year-old you wishes he could get that part of himself back. Confidence in one area will spill over to everything else. The friends you make in this group will be some of the best and longest lasting friendships you will have. You don't get to see them as much after High School so live it up while you can.
While in school please do me the following favor: SKIP TENNIS!!! Go for a little known sport called lacrosse. Trust me, it's much more fun and rewarding. Plus, you get to wear a jersey to school on game days!
Oh, while we are talking about school I may as well let you in on a little secret....you don't go to Michigan. But that's OK. PSU will turn out to be much more than you could possibly hope for. Even the summer session thing will turn out for the better. Oh, and when the potato girl goes out with you, DO NOT rent Heat. Too long and too boring.
This brings us to our next topic: Girls.
Girls continue to baffle us (the 13 and 26 year old) but I think I can at least help you out. First, you will met some girls in classes or in other places that seem to like to talk to you, or laugh at your jokes. They are not being polite. If you ask them out chances are they will not pull a sword out and cut your head off, or worse laugh at you. Learn to take a risk and please, please, please don't second guess yourself so much over the upcoming years. Over analyzing things will tend to make you hesitate and miss opportunities if you aren't careful. Also, dating in high school doesn't need to be for any other reason then to just have a good time. Don't fall into the "I have to go steady with every girl" thing. It will cause you GREAT torment if you do. Plus, it's just silly.
When you are 18 and in a frat (yes you are a frat guy now who likes beer) feel free to actually talk to the females that approach you. Again, they want something and what they want isn't all that bad, we find that out in our sophomore year ;)
Oh, and the girl you meet your Junior year. Well, I almost don't want to mention anything about that. I could tell you some things to soften what you will go through but I won't. Some things need to be experienced. Just tell her I said "Hi" and spend as much time as you can with her. PS, she will break your heart but you will carry the torch for her for a long time. And this is OK.
Next topic: Life after school.
Hard to believe but we graduated! The bad news is that you don't have a job right away. GET OVER IT!!! You will find a job so enjoy the time you have and pretend it is a vacation. By the way, it's during this time that you find out exactly how much family means to you and how much you mean to them via the "Talk at the Table".
Your first job will bring you much joy and despair, all wrapped up into one. When you are "laid-off" don't sulk! In the next three months you will learn more about yourself then you ever did before. Not all of it is good, but most of it is. Besides, your next job will give meaning to your life in a way you never thought possible. So don't sweat it!
Oh, and those odd panic feelings you get before bed sometimes....get those checked NOW! Trust me.
Final topic: Misc thoughts
- Think motorcycle! (and tire pressure)
- Start lifting weights now! It can be fun
- Don't be afraid to express how you feel. It doesn't lessen people's opinion of you.
- Cry when you feel like it. See above
- When you go to Spring Break and you are asked any question the answer is YES YES YES
That is all I have for you. Even if you choose to ignore everything know that you will be fine. The people you have in your life want to see you succeed but will be there for you even if you don't. And they will still be happy to see you.
Your older self,
J
posted by Jason at 10:18 PM
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