Letter to my Younger Self: Stay Grounded

Dear Joseph,

Congrats, man you’re officially in high school. I know you hear this all the time, but coming from yourself, I just want to remind you that these four years are going to fly by. You’re going to meet a lot of new people, try a lot of new things, and overall, choosing O’Dea will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. Although it won’t always be easy, it will all be worth it in the end.

First, I want to give you some advice. The biggest thing is this: don’t care so much about what other people think. Keep your morals, values, ideas, and goals close to you, and don’t let others decide who you are. At first, you try a little too hard to fit in. You let other people’s opinions shape you, but throughout your four years, you get a lot better at being yourself. By senior year, you really find your clique, the guys you truly enjoy being around, and you stop worrying so much about what others think of you. Obviously, don’t ignore criticism completely; take it with a grain of salt. But at the end of the day, just be yourself.

Now I want to give you some credit. You’ve been able to help raise your brothers in a way that I’ve realized most older brothers don’t. You always make sure to have their backs, teach them new things, and honestly just be a good role model for them. Those two little guys become your best friends throughout high school. You grow closer and closer to them, and you get to watch them grow so much over those four years. Just make sure you continue to be a good role model for them. Remember, in a way, you’re more than an older brother, you’re a leader. They look up to you. When they see you do certain things, they want to do them too, so keep that in mind. Lead them in the right direction, not the wrong one.

Another bump in the road during freshman year is getting cut from basketball. At first, it’s hard, but trust the process because you’re going to learn a lot from it. For one, you’re going to meet a lot of great people, some of whom you’ll really look up to. The wrestling team ends up being a much better place for you than the basketball team ever would have been. On top of that, you learn so many valuable lessons, including discipline, mental toughness, and emotional intelligence.

To be honest, a lot of people clown on you after you get cut. Basketball was supposed to be your thing, and now that you didn’t make the team, people make sure to remind you about it. It doesn’t feel good, but that feeling helps you recognize when others are struggling too. It gives you a better ability to understand people’s emotions and help others when they need it. I think that becomes one of your best traits: you look out for others, and you always do your best to help.

In conclusion, by the time you’re a senior, you’re going to look back and feel proud of everything you’ve accomplished. You’ll build countless relationships and honestly help a lot of people in many different ways. Keep being yourself. It’s going to be a great four years.