OK, I wasn't going to post in this thread, but you all inspired me. Here is my contribution:
Dear high school self,
Do not despair. You know how you are holding out for the day you get away and go to college and bloom as a person?....it happens
Taking Spanish more seriously would be a good thing. Taking math more seriously would also be a good thing. Don't listen to that lady at the math booth that says only motivated students finish advanced math in a year. You are one of those students! You are actually really smart. Don't ever limit yourself because you think you aren't one of the smart people. It wouldn't hurt to study more science. Science makes you feel happy and accomplished. Plus, you won't get a chance to study it in college....enjoy it while you can! Also, go ahead and invest in a graphing calculator. While we are talking about school, your mom has a totally different personality than do you and her approach to school and learning is not the healthiest approach for you. Go with your gut and your heart. They are solid.
All the impractical things that light up your heart are actually worth exploring and learning about. It isn't too late to take dance lessons. Voice lessons are worth the investment. Italian is a very practical hobby language.
Mom and Dad are not the superheroes you think they are. Accept it now and move on. They are wrong about a lot things and clueless about even more. You will not change them. They are only human and are doing their best. Let your own maturity level exceed theirs no matter how painful. Assert your personhood. Don't let them speak into your identity. You are absolutely right when you feel that they don't know you. Again, don't despair. Mom and Dad are not the whole world. (Also, you aren't going to win the geography debate. My advice is to bs the work and study what you are interested in secretly. Discussing religion is a bad idea too.)
Along the same lines, ask for more. Ask more often. Don't let "no" drive you to despair. There will a lot of "no" in your life, but there will also be a lot of "yes". You have to ask for it.
Do not despair about your friend situation. You know all the issues that you are dealing with? Your friends have issues too. Inasmuch as it feels like they don't care about you, most of them will still be pretty good friends years later. You are the social organizer in your group. Go ahead and plan lots of social events.
Stop being so pathetic about violin!!! Your teacher is telling you that you play flat. Listen to her, then listen to yourself. You have good ears. Use them! Breathe. Practice with intention. If it sounds bad, don't get tense, but fix it. Always practice as relaxed as possible. You have a lot of potential. Don't let your effort be hampered by a lack of faith in your ability or potential. It doesn't help to beat yourself up about failures or short comings. This is actually just an excuse to let yourself off the hook. Always think in proactive solutions.
Don't worry about that guy you've always had a crush on. You are not meant for each other. It might be best to just generally avoid him. You have totally different life goals. Go ahead and spell out that you don't want to date him. You know how your gut is telling you to avoid romance until college or later? I'm still convinced that is best.
Also, haha, all those rules that you are hearing about in all those Christian purity workshops and stuff? You can chill out about them. Not that big of a deal! Personal integrity is way more important than rules and propriety.
Don't ever hate your body. Focus on being well groomed and healthy. The emphasis should never be on meeting an ideal. There is so much more in life to focus on and there is so much more to who you are as a person to let yourself get too bogged down with how you look. (FYI, you turn out fine.)
In conclusion, don't despair! You are currently hemmed in and restricted, but the real you ends up being pretty cool. You are a likable person. Keep reading lots of books and finding ways to express yourself. Recognize that while you are currently powerless, you will one day be a force with which to be reckoned. Respect yourself as such and seek to develop yourself as much as possible.
Much love, sympathy, and solidarity,
your future professional/graduate-student-self
