Dear Beth,1
Hello. This is Beth, your 20 year old self. I know you are going through a really hard time right now. Your dad left almost a year ago. You are having to move AGAIN. This time leaving behind your best friend in the world and your first love. About this part of your life, all I can say is do NOT lose contact with Charles or especially Rachel. You will regret it everyday that you go without getting a letter from or writing a letter to either one of them. 2
About your new school, you will not be in the popular group but you will be popular (and yes, just because of who your grandma is). Cherish every friendship that you form. You will be a major band geek but that is OK because band is AWESOME! 3
Your social group will grow and fade but there are some that always stay. Make sure you become as close as you can to Paula and Sarah because they will be two friends that will stick by you always. 4
When it comes to boyfriends, you won't have many but one of them you will go out with 6 times! But after that ya'll will become best of friends. That is one way you will be different from most girls. You stay friends with ALL your ex-boyfriends.5
At the end of ninth grade, Mrs. Roberts will hand you this big application for some program called Upward Bound. Make sure you fill it out because it will be the best thing to ever happen to you! You will form friendships that will last forever! 6
The summer after 9th grade, your mom will start dating this guy with three boys. They will later become your stepbrothers so get used to them. You will learn to love them as much as you love Cassie.7
About Cassie, please do not ever tell her to "shut up" when she is asking for your advice. Always listen to her and help her (especially after you start college and aren't there all the time). 8
During your senior year, your boyfriend (that you met in Upward Bound) of 1 year and 4 months will break up with you through an email. Do NOT go until the summer without talking to him about it. And yes, ya'll will continue to be friends, even when he starts dating one of your best friends. Then after this breakup, you will start "seeing" Tommy. Please do NOT go around blabbing this news to other people. He will get VERY mad if you do. On April 18th you will get back together with Matt (you went out with him in 9th grade). Do whatever you can to keep him. He will eventually become your fiancee and you will set a date and everything!9
During your senior year, you and Tommy will become great friends. After that though, ya'll won't talk or hang out as much (because he will go to different college than you) but at the end of your freshman year of college, ya'll will become great friends again. He will be your best friend in the world. You will write poems about him (and post them on this website called allpoetry.com). When he gets a serious girlfriend do NOT go one day without at least trying to call him. 10
And that is where I am today.11
Love,12
Beth13
PS Make sure you work hard and keep those grades up so you can get a full paid scholarship like you do.14
Author notes
This is a letter written to my 13 year old self. My parents had just gotten divorced and I had to move back to Arkansas away from my friends. I was very upset... This is mainly a letter to tell myself that it will be ok... I would include other things but it is too long as it is!!!
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
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I didn't make it up... This was me in today's time writing to myself when I was 13... i am 21 now...
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Greatness
This was so well written it sounds like it really DID come from 20 years from now. Every detail is so specific and convincing that it is too hard to believe that you made them up! I hope this letter will be true someday. Good luck, great job! -
well, this is very nice. there have been many times I wish I could have gone back in time and changed so many things, if I knew what I did today. I guess we all do. things never turn out the way you want them. very nice write.
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This is amazing Beth. It had so much feeling and emotion to it and imagery as well. It made me sad about your dad, but it made me feel good to in other ways.. Like how you stay friends with all the ex boyfriends. That can't be an easy thing to do and not just any girl could do it for sure! Very Nice!
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Lol, I did one of these too!
Lots of stuff happened for you, huh? (that sux, your dad left...)
It's cool that you sent it to your thirteen-year old self...I'm thirteen and I send mine to my oooooooooooooold self 
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Delightfully special
Wow, Beth, this is like King David use to do- “encouraged himself as such.” Thank you dear one; I enjoyed reading "such words of wisdom…"
~Milly ~
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This is a very beautiful piece. Youve sent your 13yr old self a lot of advice and reassurance through this - very beautiful.
Somehow you told us your story, and now all i can do is wonder what you would have thought when you would have read this when u were 13...
Great job,
Lady anairO -
Good job. Man, if I wrote a letter to my 13 year old self it would be so long. So many mistakes I've made, especially that year.
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Beth, my sweet girl, I'm so glad that you have seen the errors in friendships that you saw. It's easy to justify why we made our mistakes, but it takes a true woman to admit that she should never tell her little sister to shut up. It is a blessed woman whose little sister loves and respects her enough to as her avice.
This is probably one of the best things I've read of yours. It's amazingly loving and sweet, reassuring and comforting to one so young. You have given yourself good advice, and you have given good reasons for all. An excellent write, my dear. Hugs, Gramma
By the way, have you written any stories? If you have, I'll bet they're good, and I would love to read them. ♥ -
lol oncore lol i love this omg if i did this you would probly figure alot ou t about me lol love ya
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Wow, that was great, what a wonderfull idea that was too whoever came up with the concept. I love the whole idea, and you really ran with it. Congratulations on a job very well done.
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aww... Bethy this was absolutly stunning!
Well written Bethy,
I wish i could do that
you did a great job with this one
luv yah
Di
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Awww... what a great idea! I wish it could really be like this! That we could look ahead and know where and when we need to reassure ourselves about certain things. I guess if we knew what was behind every door and what awaited us at the foot of every hill, then life wouldn't be near as exciting as it can be and has been. This is a sweet idea. I know a little more about you now!
♥ Kimberly -
wow this is absoluty amazing! Its like your waring yourself about the future and guiding yourself along.. u couldn't do this then..but you can do this now.. which is really good I like it a lot
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