Dear 18-Year-Old Samm

I can't believe it has been 10 years since I graduated high school! Time truly does fly by. As I sit here thinking about high school, I started thinking about what I would tell my teen self. "What I know now, that I wish I knew then!"

Dear teenage Samm,

First and most importantly, hug your grandma! Little do you know, she's really sick, and that rock in your life will soon be gone! Speaking of grandma, tell her as much as you can that you love her bar food, but remember that a salad once in awhile is a must.

Cherish every moment you have playing ball, hanging with the girls, your coaches, and even the halls you run! Your days as a baller don't last forever and you certainly won't be able to run like that much longer!

As much as some of the people in your class bug you, be nice to them, and enjoy their company. They may need you more than you will ever know (or vice versa), and you will miss these days!

Protect your heart, and stick up for yourself! You're MUCH stronger than you give yourself credit for.

And last but definitely NOT least, enjoy sleeping in! You're going to fall in love with a career that has you getting up at an inhuman time EVERY morning!

Sincerely,

A much more weathered, tired and confident YOU!

Around my 26th birthday, I did something similar, writing a letter called "Dear Young Samm, How to Not Suck!"

It was a MUCH different letter than this one. You can read it here.