Dear 13-year-old

Dear 13-year-old, be yourself. Middle school is hard. There is tremendous pressure to change yourself just to fit in. Find the right friends that accept you for who you are. Stay strong together. Also, don't go crazy on the makeup. You are beautiful the way you are. Focus on schoolwork and making exciting memories with those who love you. Also, remember that just because you are 13 does not make you too cool for your family. It is definitely exciting to be in middle school with some freedoms and new friends, but don’t forget the people who have been there all along. Your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and everybody else will always be there. Don’t let the excitement of being a teenager hide your priorites.