As a graduating senior, some of the reflection exercises we've done have included writing letters to our future selves. It's been a meaningful practice—but it also got me thinking: what would I say in a letter to my past self?
What advice or reassurance would I give to the person I was before college? And maybe, that message could resonate with others who are about to start this journey too.
So here it is—a letter to my past self. To the girl who was excited (and a little scared) about starting college.
Dear 18-year-old Ana,
Something to let go: The idea that you’ll know how things will work out.
Oh Ana! If there’s one thing I learned within my first month at Harvard—and something I still carry with me—it’s that I (and honestly, every mature person I’ve met) have no idea how things will turn out.
Your academic interests will change. The people you thought you'd stay in touch with—you won’t. And some of those people you barely noticed in your first few weeks? They’ll become some of your closest friends. You’ll face challenges you couldn’t have even imagined, and you’ll overcome them in ways you didn’t think possible.
You’ll step into leadership roles that push you to grow. You’ll travel, see beautiful places, meet inspiring people, and have conversations that reshape how you see the world. You’ll even travel alone for the first time! So much is ahead—good and bad—but even the hard moments will shape you (make sure to try to meet them with a good attitude).
The sooner you accept that life is full of uncertainty—that you won’t know how things will work out—the easier it all becomes.
Something to hold on to: This too shall pass.
I know this became one of your favorite sayings back in high school—hold on to it! It’s stayed true through it all.
Cherish the good moments, because they won’t last forever. And when you’re facing the hard, the demanding, the painful—remember: this won’t last forever either.
Something to look forward to: There’s so much!
It’s hard to pick just one thing. But look forward to being in a space that will help you grow, where you’ll feel safe, and where you can focus on who you want to become. Look forward to the incredible people you'll meet, and the goals you'll accomplish, some of which you'd never even imagined for yourself before.
Remember to nourish yourself in every sense of the word. You’ll learn (again and again) that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Make time for the things that make you feel whole.
Be excited! Take a moment to think about what you want these next four years to be. Consider the tools that will help you stay organized and grounded. And don’t forget—some of the most meaningful things ahead are the ones you couldn’t possibly predict. Embracing that uncertainty? That’s a strength.
With love, from a future self who never could have imagined how far we’d come,
(a 22-year-old) Ana
