Dear Me in 5 Years,
Hey. It shouldn’t be awkward to talk to myself, let alone talk to a version of myself that doesn’t even exist yet. However, it kind of is because I am nervous about the unknown.
I wanted to write this for two reasons, the first being that I am fresh out of ideas to write about, and I have been saving this one for as long as I’ve been a writer for Her Campus. The second is because this is a safe place to talk about where I am now and where I hope you [I] will be when I look back on this letter.
You should know by now (hopefully we have a teaching job) that during this past semester of college (Fall 2021) I changed my major to Early Childhood Education – as a junior – yikes. You will also know that this current semester that I’m writing to you from (Spring 2022) is the first classes I’ve taken for this major. I am hoping that this is a positive, although scary, step that benefits you. My hope is that you are happy, and my choice gave you a happy life.
In five years it will be Spring of 2027 (26 years old), and there are certain goals I hoped for you. I hope you are happy and secure in your classroom. I hope you are connecting with the kids and get to be as creative as you always wanted to be. I hope you are married to Andrew and maybe even have a baby by then or on the way. However, I am trying to work on not micromanaging my future expectations. Which is 100% hard for me and probably still hard for you. I wonder sometimes who you are and who you have grown into and how your values have expanded. I wonder if your favorite color has changed or if it is still stage green. I wonder if you still hate sand. I also wonder if you are thriving, happy, laughing, and still as loud mouthed as now.
Whatever you are, thank you for allowing me to be you. Wherever you are, thank you for taking me there. Whoever you are thank you for meshing me with you.
I get nervous a lot that I have done something that will hinder your light or your path in the future. That I have forced things on you or have make choices that have later consequences. But I know in my heart you are good and shining and happy – god, I really hope that. For me to think of you at 26 and what your life must look like is unimaginable but I know it will be whole. Everything that we have been through will have brought you to where you are and I’m in a strange state thinking about that fact that I will have played a role in that.
Some current things right now for you to look back on and remember would be:
- How much more engaged I am in my studies
- I recently turned 21 and Andrew turns 21 on Feb. 16th
- I just spent our money on 13 new books
- I am listening to a mixture of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Dan & Shay currently
- My kindergarten class at KinderCare are teaching me everyday and it’s the best job I’ve had
- Andrew has been looking at engagement rings
- I am going on a cruise next summer
- I started my health journey
- I am trying to figure out how to be me again in this whole new setting in school
- I am trying to make our relationship with dad better
- Jack is going to graduate this June and head off to college
- I am currently sick with COVID-19 and it is not fun
- I just bought a beta fish – named him Sushi of course :)
- Still REALLY hate Lima beans
I hope this letter finds you someday. I hope it finds you well and happy and full of life. I hope I did my part in giving you a good chance. And above all I hope that everything I imagine in my head comes true in some form in your reality. Keep pushing and climbing, keep searching and exploring, and never shut up.
Thank you for being me and I hope you are glad that you were me. See you in 5 – I look forward to meeting you then.
Love, M
Until Next Time,
HCXO,
Maddie Rose