4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

I'm in a dark place right now so this is probably more depressing than I really mean it to be. But alas, here it is. Maybe I'll re-do this one when I'm a bit more chipper.

1. Plans change. Learn to adapt. You've spent your entire life planning to go to Duke University, this will not happen. But I guarantee that it will be far better where you end up. You will make some of the best friends that you will ever have at Sewanee, grow in places that you could never imagine, and learn to love so many new things.

2. Your dad was right. The boy who you spend the rest of your life with will never pressure you to have sex before marriage and will respect you enough not to run around on you. You cannot say this about any other boy that you'll date but him. And you love him all the more for it.

3. Not everyone will like you. I'm still struggling with this today but I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that some people suck and you don't want them in your life anyway. They're the ones missing out.

4. First impressions are sometimes wrong. One of your newest, best friends you spent the better part of a year not liking. This was wrong. You'll come to terms with that together and find that what you have is a friendship unlike any you've known recently. :)

5. You will outgrow some people that you loved dearly. Only two of your friends from high school are still hanging around. I still love the rest of them, but I cannot imagine being friends with them anymore. Too much has happened. Too much time has passed.

6. "Nothing good happens without struggle" an 'inspiring' comment from my 'oh-so-lovely' boss. But there is a glimmer of truth to this. I've spent the last two years in a dark hole of depression because of my job. I'm clawing like hell to get out. This is hopefully the darkest period that I'll have to go through for a while. 

7. Learn to find humor in the little things. Sometimes that's all you'll have.

8. Don't be ashamed of what you love. Be it Memphis Tiger basketball, belly dancing or reading children's literature. You are who you are and people love you. Don't be ashamed. There are others out there just like you who aren't strong enough to embrace their differences. 

9. Realize who your friends really are. And those who aren't. Stop finding friends who are obviously bad for you. Just stop it. You'll waste more tears on people who didn't deserve them.

10. You will have hardships in your life, but nothing like those of some people you know. Have some perspective. Things are bad, yes, but they can always ALWAYS be worse.