A Letter To My 4 Year Old Self

10/03/2016

Hey, hello, Hi. It’s me, well you in the year 2016. I am now 14 years old, 15 in May and I am in 3^rd year, the Junior Cert year (but you don’t even know what that is yet, how lucky you are)

You are probably really shy and awkward and nervous, and the good news is you always will be, but you will learn to manage that. You will make friends, (I know, how shocking!) and you will have a great time although you won’t remember anything that happened this year. School is fun, and you will enjoy it so much, but as you get older you might begin to hate school, don’t do that, enjoy

You, for the longest time will feel like you can’t do anything, that you’re not talented, you will see all the other people in your class playing sports or drawing or writing and you will feel left out, but you will find something you’re good a, so get out there, try new  things, cooking, running, ballet, cycling. You will get there eventually.

 And please when your teacher asks you to sing by yourself in your school play in 1^st class do it. It’s incredibly important that you do.

You are going to lose someone you love and care about, and some bad things are going to happen, don’t be afraid to cry, you don’t have to be strong for everybody else. It is okay to talk about it and it’s not your fault.

When you get to 6^th class, and you’re leaving school, and you’re sad because you won’t get to see your friends again, remember people come and go and those that really want to be around you will try stay in contact with you, and sometimes it won’t work out, and sometimes it will, but you will find new friends and you will be fine.

You are going to be short, I know it sucks but there is nothing you can do about it. You are going to feel even shorter when you get to secondary school though. Embrace it, being short is great.

You are going to meet so many new people, who will have different interests to you, I hope you try them. Listen to new music, read new books and different types of books, go to concerts, and go to meet ups, you are going to enjoy it

Trust your instincts. When it comes to people, you have always been really good and reading people and knowing who to stay away from, trust yourself. If you really don’t think something is a good idea don’t do it. No means no, stand up for yourself. If you think you might need something bring it. You are almost always right about these kind of things.

Please, please, please, please, please STUDY. You might think “oh its only first year, and JC is so far away”, but please do it, it will be so helpful when you are in 3^rd year, and I promise you it will make your life easier.

So yeah, I know I didn't actually tell you about anything in the future because then what’s the point in experiencing life if I (you) am just going to tell you (me) everything. But I hope that by reading this that you know that everything will be fine, and that you will have an amazing, wonderful life. So don’t worry, 4 year old me. Try new things, make mistakes and move on. Your only 4, what do you have to lose.

Have Fun, lots of love

                                     Ashley