Dear Me 16-21,

Dear 16 year old Marquetta,

You only like light skin dudes because of your uncomfortable in your chocolate skin. The guy you meet this summer in Capitol Heights will be your husband. Yeah you don't see it now because you won't give him to much thought. He will be too dark and short for your taste at this age but you will grow up a few years from now.

Dear 17 yr old Marquetta,

Life is hard for you right now. Trying to juggle school, home, emotions, and new feelings. I want you to know that life gets better. You get prettier, smarter, and assertive. You are going to become a testimony for little girls. Don't give into the peer pressure that is going to come those girls won't be your friend when high school is over and one of them is going to betray you. Everything that they are doing looks glamorous now but its not. Getting drunk is not cute so when they offer it to you stick to your guns and say no! Your bestfriend (you know the dude in the Army) Write him more letters you will find that he saves those.

Dear 18 yr old Marquetta,

Get better grades. You can do it! When it is all said and done you don't want to be left behind. Stop talking to that older guy he doesn't mean you any good. None of them do for that matter. The only one worth something is the guy you take to prom he will continue to be a great friend. Keep in touch with people more often and don't isolate yourself from the world in college. Yes life is crazy for you right now but it will get better.

Dear 19 yr old Marquetta,

You just met a guy who is going to turn your world upside down. I know he's going to propose to you but he will NOT be your husband. You are going to waste a lot of your time on him and it will turn out that he is going to be a jerk. I want you to know its OK he is preparing your for your husband. Those butterflies you get when your best friend calls you up after a few months are real. I told you at age sixteen he is going to be your husband. You are going to get a well paying job this year. Don't give all your money away! Everybody who is going to take from you will talk about you when you cant do for them anymore. Also please develop a backbone you are such a DOORMAT!

Dear 20 yr old Marquetta,

Things are going well for you right now (so you think) nice job, fiancee, and your own apartment.

Something is going to happen this summer and you are going to accept it don't! When the girl calls you up and tells you what went down leave his ass alone! You won't though you will continue to be with him allowing him to lower your self esteem. Also your dude (he is extremely insecure also) will tell you to stop talking to your best friend don't listen to him! Even though you will.

Dear 21 yr old Marquetta,

Life is about to change. You are about to develop a backbone. You are on the verge of getting rid of the a-hole you decided to shack up with. Also your best friend is coming home for good when you see him for the first time in four years time will stop for a few minutes. Yup he doesn't look the same and he is not as docile as you thought he was. Before he gets here you will go through hell for 6 months because you are trying to get up enough courage to leave the jerk you live with. When you find out your best friend is coming home you will have no problem dismissing the jerk.

Sincerly,

A wiser YOU