Letter To My Younger Self- Checking In With Little Nate Dog

Hey Nate, I know you are thinking about how you’re going to study for this next 8^th grade science test, but let me tell you that you shouldn’t think so hard.

You’ll soon find that you're running out of time at Holy Rosary School, and you will have to make a hard decision about where you will go for the next four years of your life.

That decision is crucial, though, Nate, and if you don’t pick O’Dea, I won’t forgive you.

Whether it came from Mr. Mo’s rants about his time at O’Dea or the fact that 15 of your other buddies were attending, you knew this was the right fit for you.

I know you believe in making friends with everyone and trying to be on everyone’s good side, but in high school, you really have to maintain that mindset to not get brought down by other negative people.

I want to emphasize this now, though, and that is the sheer importance of joining chess club and expanding outside your comfort zone to join other clubs. Maybe they were even outside of Holy Rosary and you didn’t know it yet but take advantage of your peers around you and ask around for ways to network early within your West Seattle community.

I know you work so hard, all the time, but make sure you leave room for fun and stay off those VIDEO GAMES. They will ruin your brain, Nate and if you don’t start getting good at something now, you might start wondering what to do later.

These moments that you are going through right now are very important to learn and reflect on. You need to stay more composed and be a little more serious during class and leave the jokes for with friends, not during class.

Circling back, your ideals will shift drastically and you will lose a best friend and gain one. This is something that you can’t change and it is for the best because- our new best friend will be for life. I hope you keep striving and being your very best self, Nate.

Stay strong when you can and be vulnerable with your feelings when you think you should.

In the event of nearly losing your core group of friends, stay with them and keep them by your side while you cruise through school.

Have a good one buddy!

Sincerely, Nate Black