Letter to my Brother

Dear Little brother,
The world is big and the world is bad,
Sometimes it’ll make you mad,
Work hard and hold your values tight
Success will come to you like a 
flying kite.
 
It is hard out there. You’re 14 now and soon you’ll be entering your later teens. It all seems hunky-dory and amazing, but when you find yourself stepping into a quicksand full of problems, you will realise that reality is far from fabulous and perfection. Your teens are going to be dotted with challenges, people will try to bring out the vices in you and there will be innumerable instances that will hurt you. But it is your choice whether to see the glass of water, half empty or half full. To choose the lens you want to see the world is yours. So here is a reality check that you need.

The friends you make when you’re in school are the best friends you’ll ever make. They are real, and will love you for the simple, silly you. As you grow up, a lot will be expected from you, but your school friends just want you to do the best for you, and want you to outshine every possible star out there.

Give yourself the most importance. These teen years are where you build your skill sets; these are the years where you develop your personality. Put your heart and soul into what you’re passionate about and become the best at what you love, as that determines your career. You don’t have to be a people pleaser, but become this unique person that brings freshness to the world. People are growing, some fast, some slow. There will be times when you will feel your thoughts are more mature than others and there will be times when things are incomprehensible, but in all these times keep going. You should not get influenced by others, and try to maintain your ground and your values. Trust me, it seems really easy but it isn’t and keep in mind, the strength of the biggest trees and the largest plants lie in its roots.

 One thing that exists in the teen world is judgment. The fear of being judged by people, society and yourself will always exist. But you have to get over it and let go off these small thoughts that become barriers to your growth. Be an open-minded individual that will inspire people to be better versions of them and be open to ideas and opportunities. No matter what you do, judgements will be passed, so embrace it.

And last but not the least, the way you and I were close as kids will not always be the case. We will have our own share of ups and downs; there will be times when we won’t talk to each other, and there will be times when we will be each other’s confidantes. But, in all this, we are connected by not only blood but also our soul. My love for you will always be the same and I will always be the preachy older sister telling you more about the world through my experiences and forever looking out for you. 

Love, Your Sister 

(The author is your everyday adolescent who thrives on gossip yet brings her brutal honesty on her YouTube chat show with celebrities)

Have something to say? Write to dnaofteens@gmail.com, rama.ramanan@dnaindia.net