Dear younger me, Something I wish I knew when I was your age was that people change a lot as you get older, and I wished that I was more prepared for the fact that some of my close mates would want to do their own thing without me. So that is something that I hope you are ready for when you get to my age. Some advice I'm gonna give you now is: in school, try your hardest. Even though it'll suck at the time, it will make life so much easier in the long run instead of waiting till Year 10 and deciding to lock in, because that will stress you out. With your friends, just trust that you will find your true mates. Whether it's in 5 years or 5 days, all it takes is a 3-minute situation to know who your true boys are. Remember to talk to anyone you get a chance to. I don't care if it's that one girl you've never been able to say hi to or just an old lady at the IGA, you get the reps in and your confidence in yourself will flourish. Which brings me to this next bit: self-belief is the key to self-confidence. If you believe you can do it, you can do it. Whether it's talking to a new girl at a party or paddling into an 8-foot tube at Gnaraloo, if you're committed and know you've got this, there's nothing stopping you. I thank you sooo much for agreeing to join the Blues and Greens boys. It's been a highlight of my weeks being able to chat with a legend like Taj, and it's helped me a lot. Basically, this is a manual for how to be you, but mate, being me is pretty friggin' good, so love this life you've got and enjoy it. Hang tight youngin, Older me