Dear Five Year Old Self

      Hi five year old me, I know you’ve probably just started primary school and are starting a new chapter in your life.  I’m going to start this little piece off by giving you a bit of advice for the next few years.  Don’t take primary school for granted, secondary school and college and the rest of your life can wait for a while, primary school is where you really start to understand friendship and how to deal with different situations. The people in primary school are those who will always be there for you whenever you need them the most.

       Different times in your life have good bits and bad bits but in primary school, everything is exactly how it should be, don’t grow up too fast and wish for the next bit in your life. In sixth class you’ll want to leave primary school and grow up into secondary school, but don’t spend all your time thinking and wishing for this.

In first year, take it easy and don’t let exams stress you out too much, they’re only first year exams and don’t matter too much.  Try different activities and sports so that you know exactly what you’re looking for, although, stick with rugby. Don’t do the feis ceol, trust me it will be too hard. For the first couple of weeks you will experience a feeling that you are not quite sure who to make friends with and who to avoid making friends with, just know that you will find who the right people are for you.

       In second year don’t let the ball slip as you will find that you will suddenly be overwhelmed by things you don’t really understand, especially in maths.  If you learn how to do these things and do your maths homework every day you will find maths a lot easier and won’t have to work as hard to make up for what you have lost that year in the next year. Be patient with the high notes on the trumpet as they will come, try and just relax into them and keep doing the lip exercises and warm ups that you are given. Enjoy the rugby cup in third year also because you’ll make some amazing memories that you’ll never forget and it will be the highlight of your life up until now when I’m writing back to you.  Put your head down and work for the Junior Cert because if you don’t you will be disappointed in fourth year with your results, but the most important thing to do is have fun in life and don’t get too stressed out about anything because life is too short.   Have fun and good look!                                                                               Rob 2016