Chrissy Metz is starring in this year’s breakout hits This is Us on ABC — not bad, eh?

Well, even though the actress might be super successful now, her life wasn’t always glitzzy and glamorous. And in a personal letter to her younger self, shared with People magazine, she lays it all down.

Mandy Moore and Susan Kelechi Watson (also on This is Us) wrote letters, too.

Here’s what Chrissy had to say:

Hey, Girl, Hey!

You are just as important and beautiful as Amy, the most gorgeous cheerleader in your entire school, even if your hair isn’t the perfect natural shade of honey blonde or because your clothes aren’t from Guess or that your curves look VERY different from hers.

Contrary to the bill of goods you’ve been sold, life is not a competition. Stop comparing yourself to anyone or anything.

We are all on our own journey and YOU are the driver. There will be bumps in the road, detours to be taken and pit stops will have to be made, but you’ve got to fill ‘er up and keep going. You will lose your map, but never your intuition.

Allow every smile, frown and town you drive through to open your mind, but never close your heart.

One day you will appreciate the upgrade of that cruise control but never take your eye off that winding road you have paved by being courageously you!

– Chrissy