See Peter for back story.
Hi 18-year old Molly, it’s 24-year old Molly. I’m here to offer you a little advice. Stop rolling your eyes and hang up your chunky blue Nokia. I think I can help you out.
First of all, can I say how fabulous you look? You can’t be more than what, 118? I guess dancing three days a week really paid off. Because of that, I have to warn you about three little words: dining hall food. Oh yes, you will be seduced by the endless buffet of grilled cheese, pizza and carbs. The make-your-own waffle bar will look enticing. STAY AWAY. The salad bar may appear boring, but make your way over and and introduce yourself. I promise you will thank me later.
Know what else puts on the pounds? Alcohol. I’m not saying don’t partake, just don’t partake three days a week. Your thighs will never forgive you.
And while we’re talking about alcohol, I’m not going to lecture you on that because you’re going to be fairly responsible. But if you remember anything about this topic, remember this: if you don’t have Dixie cups, do not forgo jello shots for one giant bowl. Eating one giant jello shot with a spoon is gross. You will regret it when you puke green.
Don’t forget that college is actually about learning too. Don’t take the second psych class. You’ll hate it and will have trouble keeping your eyes open. Take more writing and branch out within your major. Don’t listen to your journalism professors when they say that PR isn’t real writing. Don’t avoid the PR classes because of the stupid girls in them that all claim they’re going to do entertainment PR for celebrities. Most of them are going to end up living in Hoboken, pretending they live the glamorous city life, all while getting coffee for the assistant to the assistant of something.
Take your studies seriously and try not to fall apart during the year after college. I promise, you won’t be changing dirty diapers forever. (What, you didn’t know you’d work in a daycare for a year? You will. And you’ll nanny. It will make you stronger.) Your first job is going to be awesome and you’re going to learn a lot. If you bring chocolate to your interview, you might be able to speed up the hiring process.
You’re going to meet a ton of people. Some awesome, some not. Don’t let the stupid people get to you. There’s always going to be mean girls and arrogant guys. It’s not high school, but some things never change. Try to ignore the sorostitute wardrobe of wide headbands, big sunglasses, North Face fleeces, leggings and Ugg boots.
Yeah, Ugg boots. They look exactly how they sound.
The friends that you meet are going to be your life line. The ones you left behind will always be there, but your relationships are going to change. Take note of the girl that chases you down the hall to make sure you’re OK, the one that dresses up in giant pink sweatpants to make you laugh, the quiet girl from your summer job and the amazing women in a local sorority.
That’s a surprise, huh? You in a sorority? You’re going to love it.
You’re going to kiss some toads. Some cheaters, some liars, some idiots. But then you’re going to fall in love. Oh my god, are you going to fall in love. He’s the kind you like, too. Tall, dark and handsome. He’s going to make you feel safer, sexier and loved more than you ever have before. Hold on tight to him. He’s going to be your husband.
If nothing else, savor every minute of the next few years. They’re going to fly by. Before you know it, you’ll be on the cusp of 25, planning a wedding, working full time and doing grown up things like paying bills, cleaning the house and getting regular oil changes.
Don’t forget who you were and appreciate who you’ve become.
Life is going to be pretty good.
Love,
Molly
41 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 13, 2007 at 11:42 am
Courtney
This is a great post idea. It’s inspiring to see how far one can come from pre-college/college days.
December 13, 2007 at 11:43 am
Jess
This is so sweet. In a lot of ways I feel close to 18 still, in my head, but then when I go back and really think about it I realize that I was actually totally different then. It’s amazing. A letter like this seems like a fun thing to write.
December 13, 2007 at 11:48 am
Peter DeWolf
That was lovely!
And now that I know you had a waffle bar, I want 18 year old Peter to go to your school.
December 13, 2007 at 11:51 am
littlespoon
I love these. May I have permission to steal for my post tomorrow?
December 13, 2007 at 11:55 am
Ashley
What a great letter! Its amazing how perfect hindsight is isn’t it? 🙂 I may have to borrow this idea….
PS I really really really want the shoes you are wanting as well. Ohmygod sexyyyy
December 13, 2007 at 12:13 pm
La
I absolutely want your “want” shoes for today. Pencil me in. 6.5. 🙂
And great post. As usual. You are adorable! 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 12:15 pm
brookem
I’ve seen this “13 year old” version floating around the bloggy world, and have been having some trouble with that one. 18 seems easier. Or maybe I’ll bust out a 16 year old one. Good idea, either way. And you rocked this one, sister!
December 13, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Clink
Aww, 18 year old Molly sounds awesome. She and 18 year old Clink would totally be friends.
December 13, 2007 at 12:20 pm
L B
that is a great idea! i love it 🙂 and you wrote is beautifully—even if you are in PR!
December 13, 2007 at 12:24 pm
clearlyimoverit
Those were the days. I actually wish you had time travelled back to tell yourself all this because, and yes I’m being selfish, I would have known about that jello bowl too. Yuck.
I love who you were then and I love who you are now. Thank you for being you!
December 13, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Elle
ok so my students are going to think I’m crazy becuase I’m all teary eyed. That was really an amazing post. I love that I will always been the CP in the pink ham pants. And the part about Mike is so sweet. You are a sap face and I love you to pieces.
December 13, 2007 at 12:34 pm
bloggingbarbie
loved this idea, and love you. beautifully written. like i told clink- i may just have to write a letter to myself. 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Stephanie
“He’s going to be your husband.” –That line gave me chills. Great post idea, you three! I’m sure you will see it floating around the bloggy world in the coming weeks!
December 13, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Claire
I’m with Stephanie – that line, “He’s going to be your husband” gave me chills and I got tears in my eyes. What a great post, great writing and a great idea. I know everyone that read this was just thinking the same thing and comparing themselves to the timeline you just gave us.
December 13, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Tina Vaziri
Lovely lovely, no matter what paths 18 year old Molly takes, they will all lead to the successful 24 year old Molly!
December 13, 2007 at 12:47 pm
pie
that was beautiful! I loved it. 18yr old pie wishes she knew more people like 18 year old Molly.
December 13, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Stacey
So good! And I totally have to steal this idea. 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Ashley
i love love love this. brilliant and beautiful. 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 1:55 pm
dreamgrrl
aww i got chills at the end, mentioning ‘he’s going to be your husband’
December 13, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Jess
I totally wrote a comment before but I don’t see it here. WordPress hasn’t been allowing me to comment ALL DAY and it’s making me really upset. Anyway, what I had said was that I feel in my head like my 18-year-old self and I are really similar, but when I actually sit down and think about it, I realize how incredibly different I am now. I should write a letter like this too, just for the process of seeing how I’ve grown.
December 13, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Marriage-101
hehe, I was one of those stupid girls in PR class…except now I do PR for big corporations…not celebrities. And I don’t live in Hoboken or fetch coffee…unless it’s for myself 😉
December 13, 2007 at 3:10 pm
chasingparadise
I loved this, Molly! It’s making me want to write one to myself. Whoever came up with this concept today (Peter? Yeah, awesome idea.) is brilliant.
Happy Thursday, it’s almost Friday.
And PS, I think we all had the chunky blue Nokia. AND it made us feel like we were bad-ass, didn’t it?
December 13, 2007 at 3:38 pm
mikesgotnothin
great stuff. as always. but you’re still not changing my mind. 😉
December 13, 2007 at 3:38 pm
kwarterlifecrisis
I love this post. Such good advice. Also, did you have the different covers for your chunky blue Nokia? Because I totally had them. Like 20. I ruled.
December 13, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Michelle and the City
life IS going to be good. i wish i could tell my past self that all the time.
December 13, 2007 at 4:29 pm
DG
If I were 18 year old Molly I would be VERY excited for the rest of my life. Or, at least until 25. So cute.
December 13, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Dani
I wish 30 year old Dani could write a letter to almost 26 year old Dani…
Beautiful post.
December 13, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Anna
I so have to do this. Love it. What a great letter.
December 13, 2007 at 9:49 pm
AP
lol it’s kinda funny you mention how boring psych classes are. i was a PR major and dropped that for psych (which btw-PR- I was awesome at), but my advisor/PR professor said no one past 35 survives PR because you “become washed up and your ideas get replaced by 22 year olds”. I was a highly discouraged 19 year old and switched majors. Psych is wonderful- but I will always miss PR.
fabulous post 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 10:19 pm
poodlegoose
what a creative idea. i love posts that make me think.
also, i’ve just become… let’s just say, interested… in shoes, and i love coming to your site to see all sorts of options that are out there. i love your “want” shoes. 🙂
December 13, 2007 at 10:32 pm
pbandrazz
I had to take a break when I read about eating the Jello shot with a spoon. Yuck!
What’s interesting about these posts is it makes me wonder if we’d REALLY want to be told all this? I mean, isn’t that the fun of it all? (Ok, a few warnings would have been nice).
December 14, 2007 at 3:47 am
Lisa
Ooh, is this chunky blue Nokia the 5110? I loved it and sorta miss it. The slap on covers were great fun. I got black keypads, and it looked so adorable with the yellow cover. God, I’m a dork. Loved reading this post, Molly.
December 14, 2007 at 3:48 am
Hope
“Yeah, Ugg boots. They look exactly how they sound.”
Haha! Best sentence I’ve read all week!
December 14, 2007 at 7:05 am
itsallabouthallie
Wow this is awesome! Great job! i too may need to borrow this idea! if you do not mind…
December 14, 2007 at 1:30 pm
heatherdc
Looove this post/idea!
No dixie cups=jello shots in a bowl. Been there, more than once. haha ehhhh Not good!
December 14, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Dear Hope « Hope dies last
[…] 14, 2007 · 2 Comments (Stolen with love from Peter, Clink and Molly as imitation is the sincerest form of […]
December 17, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Samantha
Such a great letter!
January 24, 2008 at 9:46 am
thecitythatday
Oh how I wish I could write that well.
It’s such a sweet post. 🙂
December 14, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Redframe
Hi. I only just properly found you and read all around your blog.
You’ve charmed the pants off me.
Well, that sounds rude but I meant it in the best way.
I’m so sorry about your job.
But I have no fear that you’re not headed towards better brighter things.
Lovely to ‘meet’ you!
July 26, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Natalie
Hey. Random noter. I stumbled upon your blog and got to reading many of the entries (found them rather enjoyable). But then I was completely jarred and offended by this one! I live in Hoboken, but I don’t pretend my life is glamorous. It is! haha, jk. But I do have a great magazine job I love. Don’t knock on the Hobokenites. I was once a Manhattanite. It’s overrated.
March 30, 2011 at 7:27 am
Dear Hope
[…] with love from Peter, Clink and Molly as imitation is the sincerest form of […]