On the Cover: Erica & Christianna - Letters to Our 19-Year-Old Selves

On the Cover: Erica & Christianna - Letters to Our 19-Year-Old Selves

We're both celebrating our 29th birthdays this month (Erica on June 23rd, Christianna on July 2nd), and rather than interview each other like usual, we thought it would be fun to writer letters to our awkward, barely adult, 19-year-old selves. 

Welcome to Bystander 2007.

Dear 19-Year-Old Erica,

Let's be real: life isn't going to turn out exactly as you imagine. And that's totally okay. You've been in college for, what, a year? You definitely have no idea what you're doing, and in ten years, you'll have somewhat of a better idea--but not completely. And that's okay too. 

And truthfully, you'll come to find out that everyone is pretty much in the same boat. No, really. You don't magically wake up one day and feel like an adult. It doesn't work like that. But you'll manage quite wonderfully, and you'll see that you've surrounded yourself with really supportive people. Good job.

You'll see that you won't even want the same things in ten years.

College will be awesome though, promise. Some of the connections you make now will still be in your life later. And some won't; but it's probably better that way. You'll get to go to Europe for the first time (yay!). You'll find a creative outlet in this new thing called fashion blogging. You'll eventually find a job you enjoy doing. 

I just want you know that everything will be okay. Sure, you'll struggle with a lot of random things, but you are definitely not alone. And you are smarter and stronger than you realize. You'll meet amazing people and do some amazing things and ten years will just fly on by.

So just keep doing what you're doing, because it'll only get better.

Hey Kid,

Yes, you're still a kid, even though you think you've got it all figured out. Here's a reality check: you don't. Sure, you're not doing too badly, and that's to be commended, but it'll be a couple more years until you really start to figure yourself out. Then again, I think you had a few things handled a bit better at 19 than we do now. We weren't quite as tainted by the world yet, and there are moments where I reach back and try to remember how completely fearless I was when I was you. 

You're going to have some heartbreaks, some bumps in the road, and some weird moments coming up, but don't worry about it, you'll be fine. Those people who are in your life right now—those guys who are like your brothers—hug the shit out of them, because 10 years down the road, most of them will still be in your life, and in the meantime they will be a constant that doesn't go away. Also, I know that you have a hard time making meaningful friendships with females, but you're about to meet some of the coolest chicks that you'll ever know, so don't stress about it, you find your people. They're out there. Your family, and your friend family will be your rock, never take that for granted.

Oh, and guess what? In a year you head to London for the first time, and it's going to have a huge impact on your life. Get ready for so much traveling. I know that right now you think that by 29 we will be married, maybe have a kid or two, but instead, you'll have visited 14 countries, and you won't feel like you're missing out on the thing that you think you want so badly right now, even though you still want the husband part of the equation at 29. Oh, and guess what? We still hate dating... 

All in all, you're doing great. You're living life, and thinking that things get easier when you get older. That's also a lie, but pretend I didn't tell you that, because you're going to do great things in the next ten years. You're going to meet famous people, make lifelong friends, decide to become a writer, travel the world, fall in love, fall out of love, all while loving every single minute of the ride. 

Keep your love of uncertainty, your need to uncover how and why people do the things they do, your fly on the wall mentality, and always remember to be part of the party. Most of all, keep your tenacity. This stuff will get you to where we are now, and trust me, it's not a bad place to be.

Cheers,

Your Future Self

P.S. Two days after your 29th birthday you'll be buying alcohol and the lady at Vons will give you a hard time because she thinks you don't look a day over 19. How great will it be when we're 40 and people think we're 29?! Let's rock our baby face for as long as possible, okay?