To my surprise, i wrote some stuff... that, i guess i am surprised that i had wrote. So, i was thinking of doing a round 2; dear 14 year old self, to explain maybe just some of the things that may have happened to me over the past year, as well as expressing new thoughts that i may hold.
so here goes:
Original Dear 13 year old Self.
Dear 13-year old
Kenneth,
You are probably just starting in high school, not knowing what to expect and taking everything as a joke. As your near to be 16 year old self, I would like to tell you that though you should enjoy yourself with the first two years, remember to also get the merit-average grade on your report; something that I did not do and has scarred my record of “looking good.” But regardless, you still look good (haha) and there is nothing wrong with getting a few achieves and not achieves here and there.
Please fix up the way you appeal to others,
You probably have long hair right now, with everyone thinking it looks “awesome” but please, do yourself a favor and cut that overgrown mushroom that you have into something that looks smart and preferably something like your brother; short/medium styled hair. Remember to also fix up on the way you dress, this is how you appeal to someone, stop wearing oversized t-shirts and baggy jeans; you look homeless. Remember you also have to change the way you act, being happy and over energetic is good how you are now, so keep it up, and remember being kind is also important, but don’t be too nice for your own good or people start to take advantage of that, trust me on this one.
People around you are important as well,
Right now you probably have a few girlfriends, but remember to never “play” a girl, it is not “cool” and you will earn a bad reputation as “the player” have fun, but stay out of trouble. Your current friends also start to drift off and change, so don’t get too attached to them but stay nice. Oh, and in half a years’ time, you will also meet your best mate as an international buddy. Be nice to him, remember to not leave him in the changing rooms for someone else to take him to class, take care of him as he ends up being there in times no one is else, and in general, please remember to listen to other people’s opinions.
You are probably just starting in high school, not knowing what to expect and taking everything as a joke. As your near to be 16 year old self, I would like to tell you that though you should enjoy yourself with the first two years, remember to also get the merit-average grade on your report; something that I did not do and has scarred my record of “looking good.” But regardless, you still look good (haha) and there is nothing wrong with getting a few achieves and not achieves here and there.
Please fix up the way you appeal to others,
You probably have long hair right now, with everyone thinking it looks “awesome” but please, do yourself a favor and cut that overgrown mushroom that you have into something that looks smart and preferably something like your brother; short/medium styled hair. Remember to also fix up on the way you dress, this is how you appeal to someone, stop wearing oversized t-shirts and baggy jeans; you look homeless. Remember you also have to change the way you act, being happy and over energetic is good how you are now, so keep it up, and remember being kind is also important, but don’t be too nice for your own good or people start to take advantage of that, trust me on this one.
People around you are important as well,
Right now you probably have a few girlfriends, but remember to never “play” a girl, it is not “cool” and you will earn a bad reputation as “the player” have fun, but stay out of trouble. Your current friends also start to drift off and change, so don’t get too attached to them but stay nice. Oh, and in half a years’ time, you will also meet your best mate as an international buddy. Be nice to him, remember to not leave him in the changing rooms for someone else to take him to class, take care of him as he ends up being there in times no one is else, and in general, please remember to listen to other people’s opinions.
Your grades
Will be quite bad compared to the class, but don’t worry, try harder now while its easier, but if you cannot make it, don’t worry; you catch up in a years’ time. Make a good impression by doing good work and paying attention… oh and don’t worry too much about how you dance or do your drama, it’s about fun, and if you make mistakes, you can learn from them and this builds experience, and in saying this, keep dancing, it'll get the ladies sometime down the road.
Will be quite bad compared to the class, but don’t worry, try harder now while its easier, but if you cannot make it, don’t worry; you catch up in a years’ time. Make a good impression by doing good work and paying attention… oh and don’t worry too much about how you dance or do your drama, it’s about fun, and if you make mistakes, you can learn from them and this builds experience, and in saying this, keep dancing, it'll get the ladies sometime down the road.
2 years down the
track
You will have short red hair with one side shaved. You will be a lot skinnier and you are living in a tougher society. Just remember to stay on track and just try your best, be bothered to do your work and just have fun while you still can, and remember to not give up on guitar; learn while you still have spare time. J
Your 16 year old self,
Kenneth.
You will have short red hair with one side shaved. You will be a lot skinnier and you are living in a tougher society. Just remember to stay on track and just try your best, be bothered to do your work and just have fun while you still can, and remember to not give up on guitar; learn while you still have spare time. J
Your 16 year old self,
Kenneth.
____
Dear 14-year old Kenneth,
Dear 14-year old Kenneth,
So, it has been a year in college already, how was it? I'm sure it would have been a lot better assuming you took the advice that i gave you ;) I would like to tell you now, that alot of things has happened to your 17 year old self in the past year, you, or I have changed... perhaps a bit too much; a bad change... maybe, but perhaps the good outweighs the bad. But lets not get into that just yet, a few pointers first!
How you appeal
You made accidents, you went bald last year and now you have short hair, for the better! Dressing wise, kicked out most of the clothes you wore when you were 16 too, and replaced it with relatively more simple clothes; much better. As for puberty, well lucky you, it hit you just as you were about to leave college; almost entirely on the creation of new pimples and on the widening of shoulders.
You made accidents, you went bald last year and now you have short hair, for the better! Dressing wise, kicked out most of the clothes you wore when you were 16 too, and replaced it with relatively more simple clothes; much better. As for puberty, well lucky you, it hit you just as you were about to leave college; almost entirely on the creation of new pimples and on the widening of shoulders.
People around you,
Well, long story short, but almost all the friends you have right now? Well, forget about the whole "best friends forever", this might sound sudden compared to what i said last year, but things have almost turned entirely upside down for you. The "best friends" that you did have are now nothing but people that you once knew, "things change" and this doesnt apply just to you. You're friends leave you, for many different reasons; mostly out of your own control. You'll fall into an almost depression like state; you'll be constantly sick and tired, your grades will turn from E's to Ns, with your friends constantly "betraying" you, and almost no one being there when you needed it most. So enjoy your time with them now, because in the end, you cause most of the things that happen to yourself... be a bit more cautious.
Well, long story short, but almost all the friends you have right now? Well, forget about the whole "best friends forever", this might sound sudden compared to what i said last year, but things have almost turned entirely upside down for you. The "best friends" that you did have are now nothing but people that you once knew, "things change" and this doesnt apply just to you. You're friends leave you, for many different reasons; mostly out of your own control. You'll fall into an almost depression like state; you'll be constantly sick and tired, your grades will turn from E's to Ns, with your friends constantly "betraying" you, and almost no one being there when you needed it most. So enjoy your time with them now, because in the end, you cause most of the things that happen to yourself... be a bit more cautious.
On the other hand-You're new closest friends consist entirely of people who you wouldn't have expected, some might be closer than you think, and more common if you think. Cherish them most, because this time, i honestly see them as the ones to "be there." You are lucky to have met these people, and i believe all things happen for a reason.
Family,
Not the best at the moment; also out of your control. Treat them with respect and gratitude, because they are the ones that looked out for you when you were all crawled up in your bed, with no one else to turn to. They love you, regardless of what you do, much like what you should do.
Not the best at the moment; also out of your control. Treat them with respect and gratitude, because they are the ones that looked out for you when you were all crawled up in your bed, with no one else to turn to. They love you, regardless of what you do, much like what you should do.
Grades:
Although you are slowly picking them up, i recommend you to take English based subjects due to the fact that you start to go downhill with any math related problems in year 13, simply because you lost it. Biology will be your friend instead of chemistry, remember that.
Although you are slowly picking them up, i recommend you to take English based subjects due to the fact that you start to go downhill with any math related problems in year 13, simply because you lost it. Biology will be your friend instead of chemistry, remember that.
Opportunity Cost:
So in the end, remember everything comes at a cost; the next best alternative forgone. And all is not bad, regardless of how bad i make it sound. The friends you lost? Well, they made you into a stronger person. You've quietened down but thats fine, sometimes keeping things to yourself is the better option, and they opened the path to meeting the true friends that you had casted away this whole time, as well as the opportunity to meet the friends that would help and understand you of all the things you went through. Lastly, they opened the gateway to your relationship with God. You've been given the chance to use your talents and gifts through a positive way to help others too- this i leave a surprise for you. The relationship has grown, and you have picked up many morals that He wanted you to learn and hold.
So in the end, remember everything comes at a cost; the next best alternative forgone. And all is not bad, regardless of how bad i make it sound. The friends you lost? Well, they made you into a stronger person. You've quietened down but thats fine, sometimes keeping things to yourself is the better option, and they opened the path to meeting the true friends that you had casted away this whole time, as well as the opportunity to meet the friends that would help and understand you of all the things you went through. Lastly, they opened the gateway to your relationship with God. You've been given the chance to use your talents and gifts through a positive way to help others too- this i leave a surprise for you. The relationship has grown, and you have picked up many morals that He wanted you to learn and hold.
The end:
So remember the thing i said about everything happens for a reason? Well, i'd like to think, or should i say i know that God planned this for me, and I'm grateful for that. Regardless of the pain that i had to go through, i know you will be able to overcome this with more preparation than what i had been given. This has given you new ways on how you should treat your friends, and knowledge on how you can help others by influencing them to think the same way.
However, there is one thing that i want you to work on. This quote, is what you live on almost everyday, following the speech you had made. So I would like to end it with this, keep it with you, and apply it with you now that you know the end. Maybe, just maybe, you can change what may happen to you and others.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
-C.S Lewis.
From your 17 year old self:
Kenneth Wong.
Kenneth Wong.
AWWWW :) that was a pleasure to read. This is so good, I love the idea. I think I'm gonna steal it :D mehehe. I hope you're doing great! I met you when I was 13, though I didn't know-know you, I could see how much change you went through, and I'm privilege to see the change and get to know you during that time. Keep it up Kenny! :D
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