To My Highschool Self

Dear Dom,

You are in the middle of one of the most complex periods of your life. It will get better so just hang in there. It would feel like that this time will go on forever but it will not. It would seem like your life is already set up for failure because you are not one of the popular students but it is not. It would feel like your peers will be the most important people throughout your life and having their approval is a matter of life and death but it is not. Comparing yourself with others is normal at your age. But try your best not to let it cloud the way you truly see yourself.

It is okay to enjoy rap music while everyone else listens to rock bands. It is perfectly okay to just stay at home with your video games while everyone goes out to party and drink. It is okay not to be in the cool group. It is okay to be different. Just keep on exploring and learning more about yourself.

Yes, you will manage to get a girlfriend but it is clear that you don't have any clue what the hell you are really doing. That will not last for very long. That's fine, at least you are trying. This is also the time when you'll meet the people that you'll be friends with up to this day. There would be a lot of iterations but this is the group that would stick so cherish them.

The experiences you had in your younger years will still have its carryover effects on your confidence. It will be fine, just try to find the beauty behind the madness of being in highschool. Given what I know now I can confidently say that you wouldn't want it any other way.

All the best,
Your Future Self