if I could write a letter to me..

I've seen a TON of these posts lately and I think it's a really cool idea. I'm going to write a letter to my 17-year old self. stay tuned.

Dear 17-year old, senior in high school, freshman in college Samantha,

I wish this was real and my 23-year old self could actually tell you all these things. It would save you from a lot of heartache and stress. Let's start with your love life.

That boyfriend you had in high school that you thought you would marry..yeah, you won't. You'll actually break up with him on Valentine's Day during your freshman year at UT. It actually won't hurt as bad as you think it will. It's for the best. I promise. He's a loser with a capital L and has done absolutely nothing with his life.

You remember that guy, your best guy friend who has wanted to date you for 3 years? You date him for a year. It was really hard being 5 1/2 hours away from him and you both were not mature enough to handle the distance. This one absolutely breaks you. He tries to get back together with you the entire summer after and you just don't have it.

You go back to school for your junior year and meet a guy who will end up proposing to you after a year and a half. You think it's exactly what you want but it's not. You break off the engagement after 3 months and have the time of your life for a month before you move back home.

You move back home and the first thing you want to do is see the one that broke you. This time it has a happy ending. He is 22 hours away but you are both mature and ready to handle the adjustment. You two are engaged and getting married very soon.

Let's bounce back to school. You start your freshman year at UT not knowing anyone. You decide not to join a sorority or an athletic team and just focus on your studies. You never had to study in high school but by God, you need to study now. Those late night movies and classes you slept through lead you to lose your HOPE scholarship after just one year. You decide to rush the next fall and that is one of the best decisions you ever make. These girls quickly become your best friends and motivate you to be a better person. Your grades are AWESOME this year but that one bad grade from before keeps you from getting your scholarship back. Moving into your sorority apartments is great for your social life, not so much for your academics. It's way too easy to sit and watch Real Housewives with your sisters instead of walking 25 minutes to class. Your senior year is stress on stress on stress but you get through it and you come out with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. Didn't see that one coming, did you? You were set on being a teacher but it just isn't the right thing for you.

You'll struggle to find a job & actually work retail again for a little over a month. You'll go back to the credit union until you land a full time job your good ole neighbor told you about. It's absolutely not what you want to do but it allows you to move out of Bartlett and into your own apartment with your puppy. (Yes, you have a puppy named Bristol.)

All things considered, you're happy and that's really all that matters. I don't have all the answers of course. I mean, I'm only 23. Check back with me in another 23 years and maybe I'll be able to tell you a lot more about life. It's been real. Love you! (P.S. Never drink hunch punch. It's NEVER a good idea. You'll thank me, I promise.)