11 Pieces of Advice I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

11 Pieces of Advice I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

Leave the relationship with an open heart for the next lucky one who deserves real love.

58
11 Pieces of Advice I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self
Manipal Blog

By the time I started high school, my siblings were well into the world of adulthood in L.A. doing their thing. My first year of high school was a mixture of anxiety and cluelessness. In retrospect, that was a normal start for a kid, but a part of me wished a few events could have changed for the better. Maybe those fair-weather friends and I would have never met. Maybe senior year would have been different. So many possibilities!


1. Say no to underage drinking

My first encounter with rum came from a gift of a bottle with an addition of Coca-Cola. Whoever made it didn't know what a measuring cup was or a hell of a bartender. Nonetheless, I wish I never made the choice to take a sip until much later even if that negates the unspoken rite of passage. Though I never drove drunk, please always have a designated driver who is sober!

2. Think about who your friends are

Looking back my "best friends" slimmed down to one high school chick who is my ride or die girl, Tamara. Everyone else disappeared into the ether. Call it college, work or life. People move on fast and without you. Down the road the company kept should be the ones who know all the laughter and fears without bailing.

3. Wait for the one and not the one right now

Diving into the dating pool can sink even the most prepared especially when it comes to relationships and the more intimate details of sex. Whatever happens in the end, whether or not he stays or you leave, both parties should deal with the relationship as an adult. Be safe and use protection. Don't dump people over text. Don't spread rumors. Leave the relationship with an open heart for the next lucky one who deserves real love.

4. Be a kid as much as possible

Milk this mantra because youth isn't forever. Hit the arcade. Eat junk food while watching cartoons on Saturdays. Wear a costume to on a weekday. Once the adult world comes along, a lot of those beloved activities won't be as accessible.

5. Lead the way

There's no need to follow a leader or jump off a cliff just because the high school majority does. Make your own path and stick to it even when other people think it's a bad idea. If it works for you then don't question it.

6. Meditate

Some people do yoga. Others do a little chant. Or perhaps reading a book is a bit more fitting. Chill at the beach, which is my favorite thing to. There's something about the calming waves and setting sun that keeps me centered. Bring comfort and rest. Find peace when life gets overwhelming so moving forward feels easier.

7. Be kind to be well

Not only does this apply to you, but kindness is a gift of love and courtesy to others. Turn the other cheek when possible. People sometimes don't know how their unkindness can spread into a poison. But the cure is not to help the malady exist, but to give another medicine that's unexpected. It's good for them and you as well.

8. Learn to speak up

Easier said than done. It can be the other way if you realize that little voice inside matters and needs to be heard. There's a lot of times where I look back and wish I had just told a friend how I really felt or what I meant to say in a class. Don't look back on regrets. Instead, speak up even if it seems silly.

9. Don't spread yourself too thin

Between AP Classes, extracurricular activities and keeping a part-time job, it can be easy to overstress and break down. Keep a what's important on the plate and leave the rest on the side and handle as needed.

10. Carry a light heart

During this time people from all walks of life will share a lot of words and opinions. At times, it will be offensive and the tendency to feel insulted will only be natural. Don't take it to heart because everyone is entitled to their feelings. Keep being you!

11. Learn a new skill

During the weekend, my favorite thing I learned was weaving through a makeshift loom of cardboard. It didn't take a long time to pick up on, but it was a soothing hobby that I could stop and start anytime. Learn to paint. Bake cookies. Write poetry.

From one former teenager brimming with angst and to know-it-all to another, I hope whoever reads this feels a little nostalgia but also know that we came out all right. After all, we did graduate from high school!
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

406
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1560
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments