With a new year and a new quarter, I find that one of the best forms of self-care comes through reflection. Reflecting on the past through writing a letter has become one of the most powerful activities I have done to set goals and remind myself of what I need to work on to become a better version of myself. Here is a letter to my Winter Quarter self where I hope some of these reminders and reflections will resonate with all of you.
So, here it goes.
Dear Winter Quarter Cat,
I am so proud of you. I am proud of everything you’ve been able to accomplish and everything you will continue to do. Only, there is something you need to know.
Your mental health and academic life are deeply interconnected, not mutually exclusive. Putting in the effort to take care of yourself is not a waste of time. To study well and get the grades you want, you need to be healthy, happy, and supported. You need to take care of your mind and your body and everything else that comes with the two.
I know you tend to obsess over grades and stress out to the maximum. But you do not need to be perfect. You don’t need to think of your grades as an end-all-be-all. You need to start thinking about your “why”.
Why are you studying? Why do you care about your education?
Here’s my “why” as of right now: I study because I love learning. I study because I want to change the world. I study because I am worthy of success and capable of doing the best that I can.
You can do it. I know you can. All you need to do is shift your mindset slightly, align it with your mental health and love of learning, and you’ll be on your way. But one thing to keep in mind is that each quarter is a process; overcoming your challenges will not happen overnight. It’s okay if you get a little lost. It’s okay if you don’t know everything. You’re learning for a reason. Enjoy the process, as it will be a long but rewarding one.
If you didn’t already tell yourself this today — I love you. I am rooting for you, and that is all that matters.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for help or support if you find yourself struggling. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of effort and hope. It means that you are being proactive enough to seek guidance and support before things feel like they are impossible to handle and go through.
Go change the world, even if it’s one small step at a time.
With love,
Pre-Winter Quarter Cat
Reflection is such a wonderful form of catharsis, and I encourage you to pick up the pen or computer to write yourself a letter you want your future self to hear. It doesn’t have to be perfect, structured, or anything like that. You have full creative control over everything you write, and that’s why it’s such a refreshing and cathartic practice to write letters to yourself.