Don't Forget

Dear Zander
Hello  I'm writing this 16 years, 11 months, and 9 days from where you are right now. I know it's a lot to take in but the easiest way is just by simply opening your eyes and letting the light in. Yes, your house isn't much to look at but it's keeping you out of the rain that is pounding on the windows. The bed you were born on is old and lumpy and reflects the feel of the rest of the house. Yet it has its own beauty, get to know it as much as you can before you forget. In roughly 3 years your mother will take you to a new home. This home is going to be larger and has less holes in the wall. However, it won't be as beautiful as your old one. Even though life is moving continue to keep taking pictures with your eyes and your mind. Remember the lake, the cliff, and even the two dogs that were chained in the front yard and barked at you. Remember the new adults playing soccer with you, or your foster siblings playing in the water.

Over the year you will be talked to by many new people don't be shy it's all going to work out in the end. The fancy lady in a suit isn't scary even though she's as tall as the cliff down the road. She will take pictures of you, if you smile I promise they'll smile back. After a little bit the woman in the suit will take you to a new place to introduce you to some more new people. Make sure to give them each a big hug for me because they're your mother and brother and you'll grow to love them more then the world. Don't forget any of these moments, like the hotel room with 2 beds covered in white sheets, and a window that gave a view to the world. Don't forget the dirt road that the local market was taking place on or the smell of freshly made tortillas and pollo. All these days will go by in a flash and if you forget to take the pictures you're going to forget the introduction to your story.

The following years will involve you flying in a big airplane into a new world. One that promises you so much more then what you would have had back in Guatemala. You will once again have a new home, but this on has a backyard and more then one room. There are trees, new animals and sights, and best of all new people. You're going to be sent to a preschool that speaks your native language. I know I stress it a lot but please remember, remember those words the way the "r's" roll of your tongue and actually being able to hold a conversation. You will go to that school for 2 years before you begin Kindergarten.

The first day of Kindergarten will forever change your life for the better, because this is going to be the day you meet your best friend. You will walk right into class and he spots you and says "Hello, my name is Lawrence, want to be friends?" and it is dire that you accept because you'll be needing him. Make sure you keep remembering every moment of your life. Remember that right after nap time you race to the carpet but not too fast because you want to be third (third is the one with the treasure chest). The rest of elementary school you are going to find the rest of your best friends. Two of them it will take you years to figure out who is who, but the 4th you won't realize is one of them for a little bit longer.

Elementary school is going to fly by quickly and it is necessary that you remember the time you and Lawrence got into a fight with another person in 1st grade, and the promise you'll make that day that will live with you for the rest of your life "[I] Will never get into a fight again or hurt somebody on purpose". In middle school you will have the easiest academic years of your life but the hardest social years. You might think the only way to be liked is by being mean to other kids, or to stop talking to your other friends, this is so far from the truth. Being "popular" in middles school isn't worth losing your best friends. Don't forget the bus rides with the cross country team or the friends that will move away.

You will only have to be in Urbana Middle School for 2 years before you go to another school called Uni. Uni isn't going to be easy, you will struggle to keep your grades from failing and sometimes not be able to do it. But this is where my most important lesson comes in. If one day you forget everything, promise me, promise me that you won't forget this: You are not alone, even on the stormiest day there is always someone for you, to help you and console you. You are loved and will always be loved. I know some days it won't feel like this, it might feel like there is nothing and nobody but there is. They might not know you need them ask for them and they will be at your side. And remember that you are not the only one who sometimes feels like that, there are others and it is your job to make sure they know they are loved and not alone. Laugh, smile, joke, help them forget about  their sadness even if it's for a second it will help them a lot. Finally, don't regret and mistakes you have and will make. It will teach you a lesson you'll never forget. Have fun, you're going to do amazing things.

Love, Zander