Dear 5 year old self

Dear 5 year old self,

  Hope you’re doing well. 15 year old self here. I am obviously you from the future so I know what will happen to you and stuff like that, so I have some advice (probably bad advice but sure listen) for you.

It’s March 2016 and I (or you I don’t know, it’s confusing) am in 3rd year in the High School in Rathgar. It’s a pretty nice school but it’s really bloody expensive. Secondary school is quite different, there’s around 100 people in my year and I’m in a class of 20. I don’t know which I prefer, they both have their pros and cons. But Eric, just relax. Chill. Don’t worry about small things and just go with the flow. You’re pretty smart so that’s good. You’re weakest subjects will be history and Irish. Make sure to pay attention and study a decent bit of history and to listen more in Irish, it’ll be worth it in the future.

Don’t worry about your first day of school, it’ll be grand. Its junior infants anyway so you basically just play games and fun stuff like that. I don’t remember what happens on your first day but it will be fun I’m sure. Primary school is way easier than secondary anyway and its good craic.

There’s some annoying stuff that adults make you do during your life, especially teachers and your mum and dad, but only listen to them if they actually have reasons to back it up, otherwise, do your own thing.

You will get a unicycle when you’re around 11 and you’ll fall and cut your elbow, but it didn’t hurt so you’re grand. Remember to learn from your mistakes. If you make a mistake, don’t get all bummed about it, just think to yourself ‘I won’t do this again.’  My favourite quote relates really well to this: ‘A man who never made mistakes never made anything.’

Some of my favourite food is chicken, rice, roast potatoes and chocolate (dairy milk.) I play rugby and I do mountain biking with the boys, it’s pretty fun. My favourite movies are interstellar, 12 angry men and the prestige, to name a few.