to speak to the past

Dear Alyssa,

You just turned sixteen, and can finally go on dates with your boyfriend, but you can't see the situation - and the fact that you won't ever actually go out anywhere with him - and really, this never was a good idea. You will meet your husband at BYU; you know, that school that you never wanted to go to? (yeah, you'll end up there). 

BYU will be a wonderful experience, even though you think right now that it's the most ridiculous place in the world. You will make the most amazing lifelong friends there who you can always count on, and who will remain just as amazing after you all go your separate ways. You'll also meet a teacher in your major (which will be English, by the way) who will change your life. 

Don't worry about the silly high school things that are happening right now. None of it really matters in the long run. Keep working hard in school (but nobody really needs to remind you to do that). Several of your good friends will carry through to your adult life, and they are great. Don't worry about what will happen next in your life because everything is going to work out exactly as it's supposed to. And you'll love it.

Love,

Alyssa

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could. | thirty things

the post

It all started with a book. One that was left behind. One that I picked up. One that a few years later, finally made it back to its original owner. And being lovers of the written word ourselves, Elizabeth and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to start up a real-mail correspondence. Because, let's be honest here, who doesn't love getting mail that isn't junk or bills? There's just something about receiving and writing/sending a letter. Something magical. Now if only the post was actually carried by owls. 

pen pal

I have a friend from high school who now teaches fifth grade in Morogoro, Tanzania.

He needed pen pals for the girls in his class, so I volunteered to get to know one of his students through perhaps my favorite medium, the written word. I am now anxiously awaiting my first letter from a fifth grade Tanzanian girl, and I cannot wait to get to know her, and about what life is like in Morogoro. Learning about other cultures is one of the best ways to expand your knowledge of the truth and beauty that exists in the world. I thrive on it.