This is a letter I am writing to myself. As of today I am 25, but I’m reading the letter while I’m 12 years old.
Dear Sade,
You’re 12 years old now and life is difficult. Your birth certificate says your 12, but your life and the roles you’re about to be placed in says you’re an adult. Now, before you start feeling sorry for yourself, let me tell you what your future will look like…
You’re going to go through hell. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The hell you’re about to experience is going to make you a better you, but you have to go through it in order to reap the benefits. First, your family will be separated and you’ll be placed in Juvenile Hall. For what you ask? Well, we don’t figure that out until you’re 24 years old and you try to join the Air Force, but you’re told that at the age of 12 you were charged with a misdemeanor for assault and battery because you tried to protect your siblings. Then you’ll be placed back at Polinski Children Center and after being released you’ll return to Juvenile Hall because of an “error” made by a judge, probation and the county of San Diego. BUT! Don’t give up…
At age 14, you’ll be placed with your aunt and all 6 of you and your brother and sisters will be back together again. As always, your anger got the best of you and off you had to go– A group home. You’ll stay there for almost a year. Seems difficult, right? It is, but don’t give up.
At 15, you’ll make a promise to a judge who says, “Sade, I’ll release you from the group home on one condition. You must go home, stay in school, graduate and play basketball” and you will.
You’ll go to 10th grade and will be told that you have zero credits because the credits you learned while going to school at the group home will not transfer. As always, you won’t let that stop you. You’ll attend high school from 6am until 9pm every day until you graduate. You’ll run track, cross country and play basketball and you’ll earn a varsity letter in each sport. Sade! You’re doing it!
By the time you’re 18, you’ll be a freshman at Cuyamaca Community College and you’ll run track for Coach King and Coach Edward. You’ll have your own apartment! But wait for it…
By the age of 19, you’ll fall deeply in love with your future husband. You’ll start readjusting your long term goals, giving up your dreams, and stop living your life. The only goal you won’t give up is your education. What happened? You fell in love..
From this day on, you’ll deal with the harsh realities of life, adulthood and motherhood. Before I scare you away from moving forward with your future, let me reassure you that your past tribulations, heartbreak and headaches will be the reason you went on to be the most powerful, uplifting and inspiring person to grace this earth. It’s the reason you will graduate from San Diego State University, the reason you’ll attend USC School of School Social Work to earn your Masters, but most of all, your past will be the reason you will raise two beautiful children who will forever impact your life (and bank account).
So, I hope I didn’t scare you Sade, but I thought I should tell you the impact you’re going to have on this world.
– Sincerely,
Sade B. — Age 25
I ask you all to write a letter to yourself ( at a younger age) about your life and address it to yourself (at the age you are today). When you’re done, read the letter and ask yourself, “If I know what I have to go through to get to where I need to be, would I change anything?”.
Life isn’t always easy, but it’s the difficulties in life