Dear Future Self,

The date is May 1, 2009 at 1:25 PM. As usual you are multitasking, watching The Golden Compass , reading The Rules of Attraction and Mrs. Dalloway, and drinking your third bottle of water of the day. You are graduating in a week and a couple of days. I'm writing this to you so when you are grown up and reflect on this silly little blog, you will remember where you were at this pivotal point in your life.
Current plan after graduation at this point: Travel to South Korea to teach English for 6 months-1 year, explore every inch of that corner of the world, and come back and work my way up to the VP of development or marketing communications of HBO or Showtime. Sounds like a good plan right? I wonder if you stuck to it.
Over the past few weeks you have been suffering an interminable internal debate. Essentially it boils down to make money or make good? Of course you want to help people, serve others, because you happen to be raised in the ideal position where you have never struggled to survive. Yet because of my upbringing I want to maintain that lifestyle and sacrifice my altruistic needs for number one. I wonder what decision you made. I hope you are happy with it.
Ahhh love. That aspect of your life has never been easy, clear cut, which is part of the beauty of it, don't you think? Your college sweetheart and you are over, which unearthed a great deal of clarity and a newfound sense of freedom and elation. I hope you remained friends with him, you have shared too much to write this person completely out. Although you may not be sure exactly what you need, just remember what you don't want. Please don't doubt yourself and remember all you have to offer.
Be honest. Be kind.
Lastly remember you only get one shot at this. Don't blow it.

Sincerely,
You