Written by Pau Vizcarra

To a certain 18-year-old,

Congratulations! You have reached the age you realize would not be your peak and blame status quo for unnecessarily glamourizing turning 18. Newsflash: You’re not special and life still isn’t perfect.

Perhaps you already know that 18-year-olds are stupid. You, guys, are impulsive, experimental, disorganized, and loud. To be fair, I commend you for not taking enormous pride of the brutal bitch that you were in the past. You have come a long way from being the resident classroom autocrat to being the prudent, but still slightly vitriolic, blockmate. Don’t be too flattered—you have a tendency to overanalyze. Maybe it’s because of your forward-looking nature.

Without realizing it, your obsession with the future has even made you do what normally displeasures you—planning. Events, activities, meet-ups? I already know half the excuses you would make just to not plan for those. Future? Oh yes, you love to skip to the part when you’re already thriving and sleeping on gold bars. That’s what you thought when you were 13 waiting to become 18; unaware that you would still have to sit in class, overcome the physical discomfort of traveling back and forth from home to school, and, most distressingly, dealing with people.

Now is the time for you to stop waiting for things to change. You change things. In your attempt to reinvent yourself to a calmer, more approachable and loving version, you have neglected some of the great things you used to do. You were and still are a great leader with a strong command of language. Contrary to your projected persona, you have always been a sensitive, compassionate, and selfless individual. Failure, rejection, and betrayal will come time and again. At times, life can surprise us with things that are truly meaningful. Other times, we are challenged. The things that happen to you now are just the baby steps of the life you dream. There is no rushing life when you’re 18.

The true reason why I’m writing to you is because I want you to know that you are going to be okay. It’s okay that you left one dream for another, that you’re not where you originally wanted be, because at least now you are earning your place elsewhere. It’s okay that you’re not as busy and as adventurous as your peers because at least you have time to understand what you truly want. It’s also okay to say no because at least you know what you don’t want. It’s okay to like someone because that’s your right, but don’t expect that that person is obliged to like you back. It’s even okay to feel hurt because of that but don’t dwell on it because you’re 18 and young love is doomed to fail, at least for most people including us. It’s okay to not be the best. It’s okay to fail now when you’re 18 rather than in 10 years when the world is no longer forgiving.

No matter what challenge comes to us, both you and I, we will get through it. We all get to pave our way in this world. No journey is an easy one because life is all about growth and not greatness. So, it’s okay if you’re hurt…Because you’re 18 years old.

With much love,

Your Companion