Life is a complete mess, right? Luckily for you, God gave you a big sister to make all of your mistakes for you. Trust me on this one: do as I say, and not as I do.
1. Stop worrying about what other people think.
You'll see the people you went to high school with on Facebook three kids and a nasty smoking habit from now and that's about it. I promise you, their opinions don't matter. I spent a long time worrying what other people thought, and I swear life is a lot more fun when you aren’t concerned about anybody else's opinion of you.
2. Focus on your grades.
I know, I know, I know -- you’re tired of hearing it. But, I’m here to tell you that your grades matter a lot more than you think. They determine your collegiate options, your scholarship offers, your job --your entire future. I promise, it only gets harder from here. Keep your GPA flawless now so you have some wiggle room later on. Trust me on this one.
3. Don't wish your adolescence away.
I know it’s a cliché, but you will wish you could go back to these times. It all flies by a lot faster than you think, and the real world definitely isn’t as fun as you might think.
4. Guard your heart, but let the right person open it.
If he won’t shout from the rooftops how happy he is to have you, he doesn't deserve you anyway. But, when you find the person who makes it all worth it -- don't run away.
5. Cut Momma some slack.
She does a lot more for us than we’ll ever know, and yet we continuously reward her in the worst of ways. We hit the jackpot with ours, don't push her away. Turns out, she knows what she’s talking about. Go easy on her.
6. Play the game.
Don't hitch your wagon at the first opportunity. Never settle for someone who isn't 110 percent what you need. The right guy will stick by you and if he can't keep up, he's not the right one for you.
7. Don't let anyone else tell you who you are.
All of me -- the sarcasm, the quirky accents, and the love for so much weirdness -- makes me who I am, and the people who actually matter don't only embrace it, they enjoy it. You do you.
8. Have the time of your life.
Whoever said that high school is the best four years of your life lied. They're not, but that doesn't mean you can't make them memorable. Stay out late with friends, make silly videos, and spend the time with them that you can now, because they won’t always be there. I’d trade a lot to go back to one carefree summer night with my high school crowd. Cherish it.
9. No matter what, follow your dreams.
Nothing is worse than waking up one day and realizing that you aren’t passionate about the field you’re heading into. I don’t care what it is -- if you want it badly enough, you'll make it happen.
10. Be kind. Be sweet. Be passionate. These things will make you into the person that you're meant to be.
Forever proud of you,
Your Big Sister
