Letter to Younger Self Alaina Fry

I am so proud of you. You are stronger, braver, kinder, and smarter than you give yourself credit for. You are worth far more than you think. Hang in there until you prove it to yourself. You will be shocked by the incredible things you accomplish.

You can't see it yet, but a wild and wonderful world is waiting for you. You will learn to trust your gut, accept help, and feel comfortable taking up space. It won't be a quick or painless journey, but remember that each step brings you closer to the person you've always dreamed of becoming.

I know you've been planning your outfit and itinerary since you learned to hold a crayon. But you will still step onto the WVU campus as a freshman, feeling unprepared, vulnerable, and alone without your family and friends from home. Don't worry. Those feelings don't last forever because you will meet amazing people who remind you of your worth, challenge you to be better, and support you as you discover who you are. Just like Mom always says, "You might be scared, but you still have to do it. It's okay if you have to do it scared." Or like Dad's reminder when you're struggling with change, "It's just growing pains, Tada bug." And yes, they still call you Tada bug.

Embracing the newness of it all and challenging yourself every day will make you an outstanding mentor, friend, leader, and source of support in every aspect of your life. You don't have to argue for your worth or sell others on your value. Your roots will keep you grounded. Growing up in a rural community teaches you resilience, hard work, and integrity. None of those things can be taught in a classroom.

You will surprise yourself and your family back home. You'll mentor fellow first-generation students, present and publish research, teach full lecture halls, and support others in some of their toughest moments with patience and understanding. You'll finally feel yourself growing into the life you've been working toward all along.

You won't recognize yourself in the very best way. You are growing into a confident, empathetic, intelligent woman who finds happiness within herself. You will continue to take pride in your work, find joy in helping others, and take comfort in knowing you're where you're meant to be. WVU will start to feel like home, but remember that home is also the people who love you. Trust me. It's all going to be worth it. And as any Mountaineer would tell you, trust the climb.

With love and the biggest hug,
Alaina