Dear Emme,

You are young but not dumb – a little confused as is very normal for people stepping out of high school. Believe me, you arent alone in feeling lost. Some feel lost well into their twenties and some for a life-time. My point is, nothing in life is like “i have arrived and i have all the answers” – it might seem like everyone around us seems to have their answers, they seem to be doing so well and we dont have a freaking clue..well, you’re not alone. A lot feel this but they dont express it that honestly.

Now getting to the point of being homeschooled willingly and then facing more noticeable isolation after the break-up. Emme, i realize you are an introvert and we need our space to think and talk. Sometimes we go so much into this inner space that we ignore that one thing every human being actually needs – human contact. Even introverts need meaningful connections and i guess you’re missing that now. My point is, if you keep avoiding people because of your discomfort and fear, sticking to the known environment of your home, relying on that wonderful boyfriend to give you company and make you feel good, you’ll set yourself up for a life-time of insecurity and isolation. You’ll always feel a nagging sense of doubt about yourself and seeing your boyfriend being busy will bother you more than it usually should. You will see people around you seemingly have the time of their lives while you sit alone with these doubts.

Why do you think these doubts are there?

Because you arent focusing yet, you havent found your will to change your ways – running away from people and situations. running away from something the moment it stops being easy and fun will ensure that you hardly master it. Nothing in life is easy – but be serious about what you do. You will never ever get these years back and they should not be wasted with these excuses to yourself – you cant do it, you dont like it that much etc.

When you really like something, you do it not only because you enjoy but also stick around with it when it becomes hard to do. Do you know that some of the best violinists have put about 10,000 hours of practice? Do you know that some very average brained people have worked so hard, kept trying and established themselves – there are plenty around us.

I sucked at math in high school and was better at literature by default – until one day i decided “ok thats it. i am not stupid at math. i have to try, i can be smart at this” – 2 years down the line after a great deal of ups and downs and steady improvement, i did become good at that subject.

Emme, none of us entirely know our true abilities – we can only know a bit of what we like but simply liking something and magically finding success..believe me, this is real-life, not those 2-4 min movie scene where the protagonist trains after a defeat and becomes world champion. It takes months, years to get to something..

My question is – how much are you going to run away and take the easy way?

You go to medical school to be intelligent? i will tell you one thing. Being a doctor is not a joke – its a beautiful profession where you can often do meaningful things for people, change their lives, help them everyday. But med school is not a cake walk – be prepared for hard, hard work.

Dont think that art school will help you escape that hard work too. Art is not something you should take unless you are indeed passionate and have a creative gift or inclination for it. Ask yourself these questions after much honest reflection-

1) what are the things that make me happy?
2) for whom do i want to do these things?
3) where do i see myself in the next 5 years?

These are questions that only you can answer. Its your life and you need to start!

– Moon