Letters From Our Future Selves | Teen Ink

Letters From Our Future Selves MAG

December 17, 2007
By Anonymous

Dear Associate Dean,

I don’t believe I deserve this detention. I don’t do drugs or skip class. Just because I eat lunch with the “bad eggs” does not mean that I am one. If you stereotype me then I begin to stereotype myself. Before long, I will deserve detention.

Sincerely,
Future Fast-Food Employee


Dear Police Officer,

Please give me a ticket for speeding. I was going 12 over the limit in a school zone. Just because I’m a pretty girl doesn’t mean I am above the law. I have received six warnings already, and I’m starting to believe I can do no wrong. It is good for me to get in trouble. You aren’t doing me any favors by letting me off. Soon I will believe I am invincible.

Thanks,
Future Drunk Driver


Dear Gym Teacher,

Please don’t just stand around while I am always picked last. I know you see me. Pick our teams or require the ball to be passed to three people before a point can be scored, or make us run in circles so nobody knows I’m the slowest. Just do something! I am starting to hate exercise. If you think I’m bad at athletics, I will start to believe it too. The time I spend exercising is dwindling fast. Help me.

Sending my regards,
Future Gastric Bypass Patient


Dear Parent,

Please stop praising me for being a jock. I know I can throw a mean football and I bring home the hottest cheerleaders, but I am so much more. I need you to acknowledge my creative writing assignment. I need you to accept my friends who are less attractive. For once I need you to ground me for getting a D in art and not just tell me, “It’s okay – art ­doesn’t matter.” If you don’t treat me like more, I won’t believe I can do more.

Sincerely,
Meathead Who Can’t Write a Letter


Dear Teacher,

Please pick groups for us. I know everyone smiles when you say, “Get in groups of three,” but it’s really hurting us. I have been in the same group for eight years. If this continues I will never make new friends or step out of my comfort zone. You are responsible for us while we are in class. You expect me to act like an adult, but I am obviously not one yet. Soon, I won’t be able to do anything new, because you didn’t teach me how.

From,
Guy Who Never Moved Out of His Parents’ House


Dear Smart Kid,

Please be my partner in class. I know you think I am just using you for answers, but I think maybe I can help you too. I know it’s not your fault you don’t like me. Come on, let’s be friends. What do you have to lose?

Sincerely,
Stupid Kid Who Will Never Be More


Dear Future Child,

I promise I’ll be good to you. The change starts with me, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I will do my best to raise you to have compassion and empathy for all. You will have the freedom to be who you are and not who I tell you to be. You will see others as more than just an associate dean, ­police officer, gym teacher, parent, teacher, or smart kid. Instead, you will know their names. That change starts with me.

Sincerely,
Teen From the Clique Generation



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This article has 64 comments.


sonJaNae said...
on Sep. 28 2012 at 9:40 pm
sonJaNae, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
0 articles 0 photos 68 comments

Favorite Quote:
"No one can change a person, but someone can be a person's reason to change" -Spongebob Squarepants

To say this is beyond brilliant is an understatement! I went from the last word to "5 stars" and "add to favorites" in like half a second. This is so, so mature, and I love it! Definitely one of my favorite pieces of all time!

on Nov. 25 2011 at 9:23 am
Inkslinger BRONZE, Chattanooga, Oklahoma
2 articles 0 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."--Marianne Williamson

Beautiful.

niks said...
on Oct. 12 2011 at 6:42 am
that was wonderful...

on Jun. 2 2011 at 9:46 pm
Posiedensheartbreak SILVER, Denver, Colorado
6 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Any one can be normal it is pure talent to be weird."

That was amazing!!! And completly spot on about how our society acts keep writing

on Apr. 19 2011 at 3:03 pm
poohbearswife, Lakeland, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see in the world."

Ummm.....speechless. that was so powerful!

Zaria BRONZE said...
on Apr. 9 2011 at 7:01 pm
Zaria BRONZE, Marion, Virginia
1 article 0 photos 10 comments
This is extremely powerful. It showsw how everyone else effects us whithout even realizing it. I almost started to cry because of these peoples futures because adults didn't treat them the way they NEEDED to be treated. thankyou for revealing this truth to me so i won't make the mistakes to cause this to happen

?????.... said...
on Mar. 24 2011 at 10:24 pm

 but i snap when i read this article this is amazing. This  is for everybody to read .

from ....... ???


on Mar. 6 2011 at 4:06 pm
writingrox2 GOLD, Rolling Meadows, Illinois
14 articles 2 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars.

woah. this is amazing.

nutmeg212 GOLD said...
on Jan. 27 2011 at 9:19 am
nutmeg212 GOLD, Coventry, Rhode Island
11 articles 0 photos 63 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Don't worry about it." -V.Z.

Great.  Well wriiten and a well tjought out concept.  Nice job.

 


7julieh BRONZE said...
on Jan. 21 2011 at 4:58 pm
7julieh BRONZE, Annandale, Virginia
2 articles 11 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don't try so hard to fit in, you were born to stand out

This is so powerful. I think each individual has a right to be heard, and I think you are giving a voice to so many who are afraid to speak up. Thank You

lovelovelove said...
on Jan. 17 2011 at 10:40 am
lovelovelove, Smiley, California
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"If you fall, get back up, Dont dwell on your negatives, look only ahead to your positives, never forget who you are, and that i love you."

Wow... this is a gorgeous peice of writing, thanks for sharing!

on Dec. 29 2010 at 1:43 pm
Chirsch12 BRONZE, Hastings On Hudson, New York
4 articles 2 photos 3 comments
This is really creative and great. I loved how you really connected with each "character". Super job.

Dayne22 SILVER said...
on Dec. 14 2010 at 6:02 pm
Dayne22 SILVER, Las Cruces, New Mexico
6 articles 31 photos 82 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication"- Leonardo DaVinci "Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks. Not in what they say. Just in what they are" -Markus Zusak "I'm just trying to be me... Whoever that is" Unknown

Wow this is really sad, but true...people don't relize that they'd regret things like this and that's what makes this... 

on Nov. 17 2010 at 9:42 am
this article is very sad to me because these kids are poring there hearts out to someone and they want to be treated fairly and respected and get the same treatment as everyone else and they want the same opportunities as the next person in line, these kids are telling that person that they want that person to help them in there situation and do the right thing. it was very touching to me because of how these kids are being treated and they want to be like normal kids but cant because no one will help them.  one of the letters made me cry.

SGIkid BRONZE said...
on Nov. 2 2010 at 3:22 am
SGIkid BRONZE, Salinas, California
4 articles 5 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be a man of Right, Never one of Might. Be a leader of the people, Never the tool of authority. Be the friend of the masses, Never the slave of wealth. Be a wise man of good, Never a cunning evil one." -Daisaku Ikeda

Hmmm it sounds like you want people to hold your hand through life.

MLH305 BRONZE said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 11:02 am
MLH305 BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
I can completely relate to this article. It makes me think of the future, and how my life will turn out if I don't make the right choices. I always hear "you will go far in life by learning from your past experiences." If I get a detention when I don't deserve one, don't get a ticket because of my looks, or get praised for a title that I have, I will never learn to prepare myself for the life ahead of me. Reading this was an experience of it's own. 

KLR113 BRONZE said...
on Oct. 26 2010 at 9:06 am
KLR113 BRONZE, Plaquemine, Louisiana
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
This is so amazing. The different letters appeal to all kids' injustices. There comes a point in a person's life when the grown ups refuse to believe that they need to help you or that you are in need of nurturing. I positively adore the last letter and your promise to do better. That is what the world needs, a promise for all to do better for the next generation not yourself.

on Sep. 11 2010 at 3:27 pm
R.A.Masena SILVER, Madison, Wisconsin
5 articles 0 photos 3 comments
WOW that was really good! I love that it's written as letters, it makes it so original!

on Aug. 20 2010 at 9:49 pm
softballbby BRONZE, Berea, Kentucky
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"sometimes things fall apart so better things can fall together"

wow1 i as well almost cried while reading this. its the best thing ive ever seen on this site...EVER!

on Aug. 20 2010 at 7:55 am
ImJustMe94 SILVER, Dubai, Other
6 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
People keep saying that light is important. Darkness is important too, thats when you realise the value of light.

wow! really good work! keep it up! :D