Messages from the Hill Community.
Photography by Shawn Bulloch
The following letter brings together excerpts from letters written by residents of The Hill Community.
If you're reading this, this is for my future self.
“I am so proud of the person that I am working to be. Right now, I have learned so much about the things I want to do and my goals, which makes me excited for the future.”
“Dear future me, I hope I am in a place where I can say I am happy. I trust myself to live for me and do what is best.”
“Right now, I am stuck and a little confused on what I want in life. I am hoping that you are living life the way you want, exactly how you want. Keep going and allow yourself to let go. I hope that you can learn to live for only yourself and disregard the opinions of others. You are definitely more capable than you think.”
“Your admission to medical school – as proud as you are – doesn’t exceed the other monumental events and things you’ve learned. You’re more than o-chem, the mcat, and even the admission itself.”
“There are times where you feel like you’re stagnant. But you’re exactly where you need to be and you have to push through, even when you feel like you don’t belong. Focus on your education, surround yourself with good people who push you, and have fun!”
“There's a lot of things you're stressing about, career or money. However, I'm sure everything will work out! Uncertainty sucks, but remember that you will always have yourself and your loved ones to fall back on.”
“Don’t be so afraid of the “unknown” and things you can’t control. Trust in yourself and the process. Everything will work out the way it is supposed to. Also, don’t be afraid to live in the moment. You’ve worked too hard to let life pass you by.”
“Did the nursing school open in 2027? I hope so!”
“Lean on your friends, you’ve surrounded yourself with great people. Trust their guidance, but never doubt your own.”
“I’m glad you became comfortable in your skin. Your smile is beautiful, your body is beautiful, and most importantly, your mind is beautiful. You will find friends who let you embrace yourself to the fullest!!! When you cry remember your trying and God will guide you.”
“As I know you’ll read this one day, future me, don’t fit in. Don't go for the normal job, the college you don’t want to go for, and the clubs that are only for your resume. Don’t lose faith in yourself and keep going even if it takes years, do it. Even if it's bad, keep going. I believe in you.”
“I know you don’t like not knowing what’s to come. I know it makes you anxious, and you don’t have to have everything figured out. You have time, and everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to. I know you feel like you’ve lost yourself, or like you’re falling behind and not doing enough. Remember, progress is progress no matter how slow, and you’ve come a long way. It’s okay to take time for yourself. It’s okay to relax, you’ve earned it. Just because you’re not constantly busy, or because you’re stressed, doesn’t mean you’re crazy. It just means you’re finally giving yourself room to breathe.”
The Hill Community., University of Georgia
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