To my little brother...

Guys my brother is 15 and he's a stud. He doesn't know this but I seriously think about him all the time and how he's going to do great things and have so much fun in life. He doesn't really like talking to me that much but there's so much I want to tell him so I just decided to write some advice for that little sophomore brother of mine and hopefully someday he'll realize that he has a freaking awesome older sister and he'll want to listen to me. I'm hoping in a few years when I sit on his bed and ask him how life is he won't run away but instead he'll actually want to talk because we're homies and stuff. Someday. Until now... Here's some advice, bro. I love you.

(See how he's on the opposite side as me? It wasn't originally like that)

-High school is so fun. Don't forget to live it up every moment. Go to all the football games, go to the basketball games, and I promise it's ok if you talk during class sometimes because you'll make some awesome friends.
-Don't worry if you don't understand ANYTHING Mr. Ed is saying in physics because you can still get an A in the class, easy.
-I know you're not 16 yet but you will be soon and seriously go to all the dances and ask girls on dates. I promise they'll love it. They'll think you're cute and someday they won't have cooties and you'll have tons of fun and it doesn't even have to be expensive but just make a girl's day and ask her to the dang dance.
-Choose good friends. Choose people that make you laugh every time you're with them and that genuinely think you're an awesome person because you are.
-You're really good at soccer. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. There are going to be dumb coaches and dumb teammates that don't give you the respect and encouragement you need but as long as you love the game and as long as you're giving it everything, it's all worth it. And if you don't love the game anymore, that's really ok. Find something you do love because that's really what matters.
-Be patient with mom and dad. I know sometimes they're kind of frustrating and mom likes to take tons of pictures and hear every detail about your life and all your friends lives and all your friends parents lives and sometimes you really don't know as much as she wants to know but just pity her and talk to her about your day because if you think about it she's the best mom ever and she does so much for you. And I know dad is sometimes hard to talk to and he's intimidating but he works so hard for our family and all he really wants is someone to laugh at his jokes and go to him for help with homework cause he's usually right. I know that sometimes it can seem like they don't understand and they don't love you and they make rules that are annoying and just don't make sense but just be patient and know that they really do love you and someday sooner than you think they won't be there anymore to make the rules and you'll miss them tons.
-People are going to make a huge deal about going on a mission and where you go and how early you go and when your papers are in and everything about it. Missions are a big deal and they're great and Heavenly Father wants you to go but it's not really about the mission itself. It's about becoming the type of person Heavenly Father wants you to be. It's about learning to serve others and love the gospel and work hard and I think sometimes people forget that. Don't get so caught up in the what of missionary work that you forget the why. It doesn't matter if you go to South Africa or Bakersfield, California (coolest mission ever...), it just matters that you're living your life in a way that would make God proud, and I know you are.
-Take care of the girls for me, they look up to you so much and they're the greatest best friends you'll ever have. They love you and they care so much about you, don't forget to show them that you love them and you'll take care of them, too.
-Lehi is a great school and you'll learn tons if you want to. You have to put in some work if you actually want to get anything out of your classes but it's ok. You're going to have to take some stupid classes but just suffer through those and play 2048.
-Have so much fun in high school, Mase. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my friends and all the memories I made over the years at Lehi. You're going to go on and change lives on a mission and in college and someday you'll make a girl very very happy but for right now just focus on these next few years and the good times you'll have and the people you'll meet. Make them the best years of your life!

I love you, Mase man. Can't wait until the day when we hang out all the time and you actually think I'm funny. :) Until then, we can just watch psych and call it good :)