Dear John

Dear John

• Saturday, July 7, 2018

Dear John,

Here's a little list of things you should know before you leave for Carolina.

1. You are loved. You are loved by God. You are loved by your family. You are loved by your friends. You. Are. Loved. You have a support system that's 110% behind you, and can't wait to see what amazing things you accomplish. Don't ever forget that!

2. You can do it. There are going to be rough days/weeks/months. There are going to be times you want to throw in the towel, drive home, and hug CC. There will be days when you tell yourself you can't do it. But buddy... you can do it. Boy can you sure do it. You can do it today and every day. Don't give up and don't convince yourself you're not capable, because you are.

3. Go to Cookout just because. Some of my favorite memories are of me being squished in a Cookout booth at 1am with 6 of my closest buds. So just do it. Finish that assignment or that chapter and just do it.

4. Go on adventures. Even if it's just you driving down a road you haven't been down before, who knows what you'll find. So go to that random coffee shop to study. Check out that restaurant you've been wanting to try. Go to that movie at 12 am you've been wanting to see... just go and do it.

5. Start saying yes. Say yes to spur of the moment things, say yes to taking a study break to go do something fun with your friends on campus. Say yes to going to that concert in Raleigh of the band you've wanted to see. Stop convincing yourself you shouldn't do it because it's too expensive or it's too scary. Just do it. 

6. #GDTBATH stands for Great Day To Be A Tar Heel. Don't forget the hashtag... it'll make you #relevant

7. Enter every single basketball lottery. I know we've always been a football family, but you're going to have to learn how to love Basketball. You'll never feel as much of a rush as you will during the minute leading up to tip-off when they play "jump around"... yes, you will have to jump around.

8. Don't ever let anyone make you second-guess yourself. You are perfectly imperfect just the way you are. There are going to be times you question whether or not someone likes you, or if you're being "cool" enough, or if you're "fitting in"... but don't. Don't let anyone make you feel unworthy or like you need to be fixed. I'm so wrong when I say I want to fix you because John, you sure as heck don't need any fixing. You're amazing just the way you are. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise... especially your annoying older sister.

9. Duke is the WOAT. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Even if you don't believe it, for the next 2 years you have to convince yourself D00k is the enemy.

10. When we beat Duke, you have to rush Franklin. When I say rush, I mean RUSH. You'll be sweaty, out of breath, and on the verge of passing out after the 10 minute run, but MAN will you be exhilarated. After you rush, mosy on over to Lotsa for some pizza or YoPo for some yogurt. Oh, and be sure to send me tons of pictures.

11. Stop in your tracks. I wasn't sentimental until my Senior year. What I wouldn't do to go back to Junior year and just take everything in. There will be days when your main goal is getting from point A to point B, but John, do me a favor and look around and take in the moment. Look at the people laying in the quad. Look at the sunrise coming over wilson library if you ever make the mistake of signing up for an 8am. Look over your shoulder and look at Davis while you're leaving at 2am. Look out of the Lenoir windows into the pit while you're eating with your buds. Just take a moment to stop and look.

12. Remember, I'm just one phone call away. There were times I needed to talk to someone at 3am. I remember calling dad during one of these times, and I remember not thinking he was going to pick up. Well, to my surprise he did. My overwhelmed day-before-a-huge-final-exam-self was so thankful to hear his voice that I started crying. Sometimes all you need is a familiar voice to tell you it's going to be okay, because ya know what... it's all going to be okay. So call me. Call me at 3am, call me at 2pm, call me whenever. Let me be that person you can count on whenever and wherever. 

13. I love you. I love you more than I could ever express. I love you for your humor, your compassion, your encouragement, your thoughtfulness, your intentionality, I love you for you. I love you in your flaws just like you love me in mine. I will forever and always be in your corner. 

Love, 

Mae