LCFC Journal #25: A Letter to My 18-Year-Old Self
Dear Kevin,
I’m your future self, ten years from now. First and foremost, congratulations!!! The beginning to the rest of your life begins now. How are you feeling? You’re probably going through a constant flux of emotions currently. I know you feel a lot of angst about college but you’ve been raised right by your parents. You are going to get through it!!! The reason why I’m writing to you right now is because I’ve been through some of the things you will have to endure in due time and I figured I’d write to tell you what to expect on the journey up ahead. The first thing you need to realize is that college is a good idea for anyone wanting to get ahead in life but the schooling you’ll receive alone is not the answer. There is a lot of grit, determination, persistence, effort and hustle that will get you to where you need to be.
Now do I know exactly where you’ll be in about 15 or twenty years personally? Of course not, because if that was the case, I would have been figured it out for myself as well. So, I think that it is safe to say that we’re all learning. It doesn’t matter how old you are. There’s something to learn in every way possible and life lessons to be experienced every step of the way. You’re probably thinking that you’re going to make it throughout the entire 4-year college experience with the mindset that you will major in one field exclusively. That can happen but I also want you to be understanding that your desires, career path and expectations will change every step of the way. Whatever you do young fella, don’t limit yourself. Take advantage of every single opportunity college has to offer you: social life, networking, internships and building relationships with people that share the same interests as you and have similar mindsets.
Also, I know you feel as if you have an allegiance to dad but if you know deep within your heart that computer engineering is not for you then DON’T DO IT! It doesn’t make any sense to be paying for an education that will grant you access to a career that you hate. What I’ve learned over the last ten years is that in life, we need to be reasonable but a bit selfish sometimes. If you’re going to study something make sure that it’s in something that you love. Will it guarantee you a position somewhere with full benefits and a salary? Maybe. Probably not. So, why not just focus on happiness and letting the rest play out as the days and years unfold? Also, you are not alone in this journey!! You have a full support system around you or will come to have one in due time. There are good people out there you just need to find the right ones that fit you as a person and as a future professional. Another thing: don’t break the bank in order to service your education. If you come to a point where you cannot afford to pay for private school consider going to a community college. These colleges are affordable ways to gain educational experience and if you commit your time to studying and being focused you will prepare yourself for further schooling afterwards. Most importantly Kev, just be you. There will be detractors and critics out there that want to see you fall flat on your face. It will be up to you to block it and cancel out all noise. Last, but not least, in your quest for happiness and success don’t let ambition and desires deter you from spending time with family. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again this is something I would certainly press a hard reset on. No matter what it is that you will be facing in college, you will never have the chance to have another support system in your life as much as family. Doing well in school is cool, following your dreams is great but what’s the point to all of that when you’re not making time to celebrate accordingly with the ones you love? Alas, I am done here.
Being 28-years-old doesn’t afford me enough time to say everything that I’d like to say due to bills, workload and being at a crossroads of possibly switching careers. But nonetheless, I know you have what it takes to make it happen Kevin. You’re bright, funny and very generous. Your energy is magnetic and it lights up any room that you walk into. You’re going to be fine. Be sure to keep God first every step of the way and remember that life is a journey. You must experience it every day in full in order to get to the next part of the journey. If you don’t know what I mean, don’t worry young fella, you’ll soon understand in due time. I wish you nothing but the best and I hope to hear from you in ten years or so. Let me know how it all works out for you down the line.
Signed,
-Your Older Self
Kev Elev
Kevin Anglade is a writer, poet, scholar, educator and publisher from Queens, New York. He started taking writing seriously at the age of 21 in 2012 and since then uses art as a way to educate and promote self-expression. Anglade holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s from the City University of New York in English literature (Brooklyn & Queens College). He is a part-time professor in the General Ed Studies Department in East Hartford, Connecticut. He enjoys, reading, writing, hip-hop, stand-up comedy, basketball and is the author of the forthcoming poetry collection, “A Flower That Rose” (2021).
Originally published at http://kevinanglade.wordpress.com on September 17, 2019.
