An Open Letter to My YA Self

Thanks so much to Ginger @ GReads Books! To celebrate all the awesome YA contemporaries out there, she decided it would be fun for us to write an open letter to our YA selves. There are so many books I've read that I wish could have been in my hands as a teen. I think we all feel this way. So here's my open letter to my YA self. 

Dear Teenage Becca, 

I know that life isn't going so great right now. You haven't made the best choices lately and those choices have caused you to lose all your friends. High school is hard enough with friends, without them, it's even worse. I know right now you feel like you'll never make it through this. I know right now that it hurts to wake up every morning. I know the dread you feel at having to go to school every day. I know the fear you feel every morning when you walk outside. Will my car be covered in eggs today? My heart hurts thinking about everything you're going through. Because to this day, it still is some of the hardest stuff you'll have to go through. 

But I'm here to tell you that it gets better. You're going to meet an amazing guy who is going to love you like no one has loved you before. You're going to leave that small town behind and never look back. You're going to start a new life. You're going to meet new friends, friends that will be in your life forever. Friends that will mean the world to you. 

You're also going to start a book blog. Don't look at me like that. I know you've fallen out of reading right now, but you're going to find books again and they are going to help you through another hard time. I wish you would read books like Life by Committee right now. The main character's friends have all abandoned her too. She has a crush on a guy with a girlfriend. I think that Tabby's journey could really help you through this time. I think you could learn stuff from Tabby and maybe things could get better sooner. 

I wish you would read Fangirl and Eleanor & Park. Both of these books will show you that it's okay to be different. It's okay to be yourself. They'll teach you that change is scary, but not always bad. They'll teach you that running away isn't always an option. That sometimes you have to face your enemies and your greatest fears head on. And even though it may not be fun and it may not go your way, you'll be a better person on the other side. Fangirl will teach you how important your relationship with your sisters is. It'll teach you that they are your best friends, that it doesn't matter if all your other friends left. Your sisters will always be there and you will be closer to them in a few years than you ever thought. Eleanor & Park will teach you that you can find love in the strangest places. You won't be looking for it, but it will find you. And the person you find may not be your "type", but that doesn't mean it won't be the most magical experience you'll ever have. So give him a chance, because he's going to change your life. 

Most importantly, Becca, you're going to be okay. I know that everyone is telling you that and you don't believe it. I know that you think that it might be easier to just give up. But you've got to fight. Like Tabby and Cath and Eleanor. You've got to keep your head up and get through this, because what's waiting for you on the other side is totally worth it. You are going to be a better person because of these experiences. I promise. 

Love, 

Present Becca