Dear 16 year old self,

Let me first say, you wont be in high school forever.  I know it doesn't feel that way, but its true.  And you never have to go back.  Not even to the reunions, if you so choose (and you will).  Now, if you'd like, you can go celebrate with some Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge brownie.  It always was your favorite.

These hard years have taught you far more than you know.  They have shaped you and hardened you and you are being primed for someone to come in with a big sledge hammer and crush your life as you know it into a thousand tiny pieces.  I'll get to that in a minute...

For now, soak up every second of cheerleading.  You aren't too bad at it for only starting out last year.  And its fun.  But it is far less important than you feel like it is.  It will however, come in handy one day as a ministry tool (yes, ministry...you can laugh now).

Don't waste your time dreaming about being a zoologist.  It would never work out.  You hate chemistry.  Try writing a little more.  Or better still, cook and clean.  Your future job will be made up of countless hours of those!  The zoologist itch will get scratched with a little girl who loves animals as much as you do.

Your popularity will peak next year.  It will go to your head.  You will lose friends over it.  Its not worth it.  Ask to be taken off the homecoming ballot.

That relationship you're in...get out.  Hes a good guy, sure.  But you are running to men to fill a hole in you that they will never fill.

Don't be so insecure.  Your quietness airs itself as arrogance.  Smile a little more, talk to people.

When Daniel asks you what religion you are, let him explain what he believes.  It will be the start of the Lord wooing you to himself.  Don't settle for the moralistic judge Jesus you have been sold.  There is so much more to Him than you could fathom.

Wear more clothes.  You are beautiful, you don't have to prove it to anyone.  Soon, someone will give you a bit of a makeover, and you will be more beautiful than you could ever imagine.  And it has nothing to do with your waist size or skin color.  This kind doesn't fade.

Believe it or not, you and Chris will be friends again.  Even crazier?  You will be in his wedding.  Seriously.

Girls are not the enemy.  I know you don't believe that, and lets be honest, you shouldn't.  But they aren't.  There are women in your future who will walk beside you in some of your darkest days.  They will redeem this season.

Go on a visit to UNCC.  I know everyone from HS is going there and that's why you don't want to.  But trust me, its worth a look.

You will meet the man of your dreams next year, on the ELHS football field.  The story is a little complicated, but when he talks to you, try to gather yourself enough to at least respond.  :)

Senior week isn't worth it.  Just don't go...mmkay?

About the same time you meet dream guy, Jesus will turn your world upside down.  You will lose friends to car accidents.  You will get sick of being the good girl and try out (very briefly) the opposite lifestyle.  You will realize all your efforts to be good were sinful.  You are just as bad as the class slut.  You will move to APP and 2 weeks into school, you will re-injure that new back issue you have.  You will drive home alone that night on a dark curvy road and open your heart to whatever Jesus wants.  It will be more life altering that you can imagine.  That's the sledge hammer.  Everything hinges on that night.

Sorry to be so serious, I just want you to be ready.  I wish you would do a million things differently, but I don't want your story to be different, at all.  Not an ounce.   Its beautiful, glorious even.  I wish I could say these are the hardest day you will see.  Unfortunately, I can't.  But suffering is the brush that delivers the makeover, and it is so very worth it.  And that night in the car?  It will give you everything you need to make it through the deepest valley.

Best wishes dear Rachel.