Dear twelve-year-old Odessa,
You've just left elementary school. You miss your teacher and you're nervous about going to Bennion, especially since there are only three people you know of in your grade who are going there. But you're also a little bit excited to find out what'll happen. You're interested in having eight classes in a day. Like I said, you're nervous. But nothing you can't handle.
You're also slightly upset that you're not going to be taking theatre due to a schedule conflict, and to make matters worse, you're being put in soprano-alto chorus. You do not want to sing. You do not like to sing. You are not happy.
Oh, you're in for a treat, my dear.
You get over that initial feeling of dislike rather quickly and you even get a solo in your very first choir concert. But the real delight will come in approximately four years and eight months. I don't want to spoil anything for you, but it's very safe to say that you're not going to hate singing for very much longer.
However, I won't lie: there are some major hardships in store. Seventh grade P.E. is going to be living H-E-double hockey sticks for you. I'm not even being hyperbolic. You are going to cry and cry and suffer and cry again because it just does not work for you. It's going to affect your whole outlook on the importance of exercise, because how could you ever go run a mile again without remembering how much you hated doing it in junior high? How could you ever enjoy sports without knowing how badly you did in junior high when you played volleyball and soccer and basketball and ultimate Frisbee? And how could you ever feel comfortable exercising in front of other people without remembering how consciously aware you were of how terribly you did during cardio day?
Of course, you're not going to hate every single aspect of P.E. You're really going to enjoy the weight room, and you actually don't mind lacrosse and hockey that much (it's not ice hockey, don't worry). And you're going to find a strength and a resolve in you that you didn't think you had. And it'll even be to your advantage in a few months.
And you're going to just shine in English. Not that this is any surprise, but still. It's probably a good reminder for you sometimes just how good you're going to get.
Seventh grade will be hard for you, but looking back on it, I'm surprised you don't take it harder. Every time I think back on it now, I'm amazed that you'll actually enjoy it. But you do. And that's what's important to remember: the only grade you've truly hated is fifth grade, and I'm writing this from eleventh grade. The years are going to be hard, but you'll never see it so negatively again.
My parting words to you are that the next three years are going to possibly be the best three consecutive years of your entire life.
Love,
seventeen-year-old Odessa
Dear thirteen-year-old Odessa,
See? Didn't I tell you? You made it through seventh grade with a smile on your face! Except for P.E. But you were prepared, which is more than I can say.
Of course, right now, you're lying on the couch in the living room by the window, extraordinarily sick. Trek was not kind to you, but it was significantly kinder due to the mental endurance you've been able to build up from P.E.
Doesn't change the fact that you're sick though.
But, you have your schedule, and it looks interesting. You've heard things about some of the teachers--good and bad--and you've had a couple of them before, but it's new enough that you're pretty excited. Or, at least, as excited as you can be while feverish and queasy.
I'm sorry I'm making fun of you, but it's too good of an opportunity to waste.
I bring up previous teachers, because if you take a look at your fourth period, what does it say there? Mixed chorus? That can't be right. You don't like singing. And if it's your fourth period, doesn't that mean you gave up taking GT Integrated Science? Are you settling for honors in order to take a more advanced choir class?
You know full well that you are. And you don't regret it whatsoever. You probably never will.
You're going to have another solo this year, and you'll be part of a trio for one song. You're also going to find one of your absolutely favorite choir songs this year. It's going to be crazy fun.
P.E. is still going to be absolutely horrendous, but you don't cry as much this year. And I really don't mean that in a condescending way. You'll know what I mean soon enough.
And you are going to have the absolute worst class of your life this year. I won't tell you which one it is, but let me just tell you, you will feel bitter towards the teacher and the class for who knows how long. I haven't gotten over it, that's for sure. Maybe I never will.
At least you're out of Heidel's class. Spoiler alert: you never go back. Ever. Not to any of the classes he teaches.
You're going to become so close to Bailey this year, it's going to be amazing. The two of you are going to have so much fun...I mean, at the time, you think that you're having more fun with Bailey than you ever will. I won't shatter that image for you.
Oh, one last thing...I hope you're not too excited about having Mrs. Travis for English, because you actually don't have her. But believe me, it's going to be one of the best things to ever happen to you (nothing that has to do with her, don't worry).
Love,
seventeen-year-old Odessa
Dear fourteen-year-old Odessa,
We'll just get it out of the way now: ninth grade P.E. doesn't suck nearly as much this year, but mostly because you actually have multiple, awesome friends this time around instead of just one or two decent ones.
Now, you are absolutely restless at home this summer. All you want is to go back to school. All you want is to dive right back in where you left off, but without the eighth grade U.S. history you so despise. (I did warn you, did I not?)
I want you to know that I have to drop this bombshell because I love you and because I wish someone would've done it to me earlier.
You're about to start your last year of junior high.
Oh gosh. That knowledge still makes my stomach twist.
You are going to have such a hard time this year. Like, you're going to cry yourself to sleep quite a few times, and you're going to keep yourself awake thinking about everything you're going to miss about it. This also means you'll get too caught up in your choice of high school a little too early on in the year. But, you'll have one of the most spiritual experiences you've ever had because of that. Just a forewarning: the answer you get at the beginning of the year is not what school you should go to.
Despite how sad it's going to make you, you are going to have so much stinkin' fun with your friends. You're going to keep a notebook of all of the fun things that happen to you guys, and even now, that notebook is a blessing to you and your friends. Like, you and Bailey and Alida are going to have so many adventures, it's crazy. They all happen at school, usually among seminary, choir, and English.
Coincidentally, those are the classes you'll miss the most.
But don't think about that. Just enjoy living each second because you'll wish you could hold every precious moment in perfect detail. So breathe in each one.
You, Bailey, and Alida are going to cause quite a bit of havoc for some of your teachers, namely Brother Hill, Ms. Puzey, and Mr. Graff. But it's fun havoc. You also become so much more outgoing in some of your classes, which is a nice surprise for some of your teachers (although I'm sure those three sometimes wished you shut up).
I haven't yet had a school year that beat out ninth grade, if that's any indication as to how much you'll enjoy it. Even with your first AP class, you enjoy it. And AP really isn't all that bad. You'll find it pretty interesting, in fact. The teacher won't be your favorite, but it's okay. You'll have worse ones.
Whoops. Pretend I didn't say that.
And seminary is going to be so amazing. You're going to find such a great appreciation for the Doctrine & Covenants, it's unbelievable. You'll be so incredibly surprised at how much it means to you, and how much it will always mean to you.
But probably the best outcome of seminary is that you're finally going to establish a pattern of reading your scriptures every day. I won't tell you why you suddenly start doing so because it's a little less than glamorous. Besides, you won't learn if I tell you, and that's the best part of the experience.
I just want you to remember that, as happy as you are in ninth grade, there's plenty more good stuff comin' your way.
Oh, and in case you were wondering...
You and Bailey have a little duet at the ninth grade promotion assembly (not an entire song, don't worry).
Love,
seventeen-year-old Odessa
I hope your day is as awesome as you.
