Pupils honour Youth Day with ‘letters to my older self’

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“Don’t forget to relax and have fun.” “Don’t make the mistakes I made.” “Get your degrees, then start a family”. “Have you got a car?”

In celebration of Youth Day, school pupils at Riverside College at Burgundy Estate in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, have written letters of commitment to their elder selves.

The project was inspired by a book entitled Me to Me: Letters to my 16 and a half-year old self, a collection of letters written by South Africans, including Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and musician Loyiso Bala, to their younger selves.

Selected letters from Riverside College:

Joshua Ross - Grade 8

Dear Future Self

I am writing this letter to say that you can fulfill your future dreams even if you don’t think so.

I hope you’ve got a degree in university and if you haven’t, you are working on it. I also hope that you’ve got a successful job. I wanted to know if you have started building your own house and if you’ve got your own car already?

Have you moved to the UK? Have you got a girlfriend? Are you engaged or married? Anyway even if you haven’t done any of those things I’m sure you’re still happy. Please enjoy your future, be happy and take every day as it comes. Remember I’m going through worse, high school. Nothing’s this bad.

Remember to please write back soon and to enjoy your future every day.

Love from

Your Past Self

Tara Africa - Grade 8

Dear future self

Writing this letter to you kinda sounds funny, weird, but I want to let you know that “be yourself in every accomplishment”.

I’m not sure right now on what I would like to become and achieve. I know whatever it is, you will find the right path. Do me a favour and thank your parents for everything they have done and for pushing you and still is going to push through certain things, and to your brothers and sister for being there and still going to be there!! Have fun, enjoy life don’t always take everything serious. Life for me at the moment is like a “mountain” with everything at home and with my school work. Keep your head up - I’m still learning to do that! Don’t make the mistakes I made. Study hard, enjoy your school years and varsity years!!

Just smile, even when times get tough!! Please progress with running.

Just know you are you … Nobody can change that!!

Love from: My Past self

Zoë McConachie - Grade 7

Dear Zoë

Make good choices with money, set goals. Never think of yourself too much. Never underestimate yourself too much. Work hard, it pays off. Always try your best even if you don’t always win. Focus on what’s important.

Keep working, keep trying and don’t forget to relax and have fun also at times. Don’t become too stressed about little things. Enjoy your young years while you can.

By the time you read this letter you will be able to tick off everything I mentioned. Practice makes perfect, don’t be in a hurry, take things slowly and carefully

Love Zoë M

Keane Byrne - Grade 7

Dear Keane

I really hope you are studying hard. I want to know that you have done honours and working toward your masters degree. And hope you have got a good matric mark.

Have you got a car? Home? Are you successful? Have you had a part-time job for experience and income?

Do you have the knowledge to be what you plan to be? Do you have some interests?

How’s the family doing?

Sincerely

12-year-old Keane

Kerryn von Reitzig - Grade 11

To my 25-year-old Kerryn

When you were very young, you had two dreams in mind. I lifted you up and motivated you through the years. The first dream was to become a physiotherapist with your very own practice, The second one is to have a great big white wedding and start a family.

Slowly the second dream died away and the first one became even stronger. When you get to matric you need to put all you heart and energy into your studies. Make extra study notes and revise well. Sitting for three to four hours is not going to cut it next year, You need to up the amount of hours you study. Always remember that these marks will determine what university you go to.

You need to research all possible universities to go to. Research how much money you will get if you will work this job.

In the year 2013 and 2014 you did “job shadowing your dream career”, you got all the answers you possibly needed to study/be intregated in this career .

I know this sounds heartless but you need to focus on your career before you start a family. Get your degrees, then start a family.

Best of luck

Love from

Kerryn von Reitzig

• To find out more about Me to Me: Letters to my 16 and a half-year old self, visit BooksLive

• For international celebrities letters' to their younger selves, including Oprah Winfrey