I find myself reading so many sappy open letters, statuses, tweets and posts written by younger girls on social media. It disheartens me. Our younger years are times for friendships, fun, carelessness and the least amount of responsibilities you will ever have. I wonder now why I spent these years trying to grow up so fast. Trying to look older, act older, and sadly, guilty of posting what my so called "troubles" were. I wish my 16-year-old self had known to put down my phone, take off my ridiculous eyeliner, dump the boy that treated me like dirt and for once enjoy life before I had to grow up.
1. Leave him.
You will one day look back and regret the times missed with your friends. You will also look back and regret those cringe-worthy tweets. Are you going to marry this boy? Start a family? Raise some kids? No. Quit questioning your self worth, and quit sacrificing time with your friends (who are there for you when a boy is not) just because some guy is ignoring your texts.
2. Never pick a boy over your friends.
One thing I learned from my high school experience is that I have incredible friends. They have been with me through it all, and stuck around through the ugly times. Another thing I learned is that they will ALWAYS be there for you, and most boys will be temporary. I wish I had never chosen time with a boy over time with them.
3. Put down your eyeliner.
The natural you is better. Trust me. That eyeliner didn't make you look any older.
4. You don't need to decide what you'll do for the rest of your life now.
Currently, I have changed my major three times. However, I'm still on track to graduate on time. College is a time to get a feel for what you want to do for the rest of your life. No one has to enter college with your mind set on a career path.
5. Stop being mean to your parents.
Your parents love you, more than you know. So the next time you get mad at them for not letting you out past 1 on a weekend, be grateful instead. Be grateful that you have parents who care about you enough to know that nothing good happens after 2 a.m. (thanks Barney).
6. You are not "too cool" for school spirit.
Just because your friends don't feel like cheering in the student section, or don't feel like attending prom, doesn't mean you have to as well. Sure, you might feel super corny doing cheers and taking cheesy prom pictures at your house, but I can guarantee you'll look back on them and smile.
7. Appreciate those home-cooked meals.
What I would do to have my parent's dinners every night again. There will come a time in college where you will be having a mediocre meal at your dining hall and come to miss your mom's pot roast. Enjoy them while you still can.
8. Everyone will talk about you behind your back, and that's OK.
Your friends, acquaintances, and family will all talk about you, so don't sweat it. What others think of you is none of your business, whether it is good or bad. I have learned that no matter how old you are, it will happen. And think about it: we have all talked about others behind their backs as well.
9. Enjoy your metabolism while it lasts.
Eat the last piece of pizza. Help yourself to more. Buy yourself chocolate just because you feel grumpy. One day you will worry about your health, watch your diet, and go to the gym. That day is not today. I swear you will most likely burn off that pizza within the next hour.
10. Never compare yourself to other girls.
So maybe your friend's boobs came in when she was 14 and you're still sporting mosquito bites. So what? Maybe yours will come in, or maybe they won't. You will come to learn that one's character makes up for mosquito bites over and over again.
11. Never be afraid to stray from the norm.
Everybody is sporting Uggs, but you would rather sport Doc Martins. Always keep what separates you from the crowd, and always show it off.
12. Some friends go, and some stay for life.
It's never easy to lose touch with a friend, or have a "falling out." These, however, help you find your true friends who will stick around for good. My best friend once told me something I'll never forget: "You have to go through some bad friends to find the good ones."
13. Appreciate your high school teachers.
Half of your college professors will never learn your name. Granted, there's a lot of names to learn at a university. But some of my fondest conversations and memories with a teacher came from my high school. Appreciate the close relationships you'll make with your teachers in high school. They might be the ones to tell you, "Hey, you are a natural at English!" or, "Hey, have you ever thought about majoring in biology?"
14. Put down your cell phone.
I still to this day struggle with this concept. Our world today is obsessed with showing off what party we were at last night, that fire selfie you took, or what latest adventure you and your friends went on. But by constantly refreshing our Instagram feeds to see those likes, we miss the lovely sights on the adventure, your friend's funny jokes, or merely the beautiful world around us. Next time you snap a picture, try keeping it for yourself as a memory. Besides, it doesn't matter how many people like the group photo of you and your friends. What matters is that you can look back on that picture and remember all the funny, crazy memories you all made together that night.
15. You are always capable of more.
Failure will always happen. There will be days when you feel on top of the world, and then feel lower than the dirt on it. But failure means that you're trying, and that's still a success in itself. So what if you failed? Now you have learned a lesson. Every failure in life teaches us a lesson. Always test yourself, and always push for more. Our greatest setbacks in life is the "what if" question. "What if I apply to this school and don't get in? "What if I try out and don't make the team?" But what if you do?
16. One day you'll realize why everything happened the way it did.
Remember that day in high school when you tried out for the ____ team and didn't make it? Remember how upset you were? Now, remember how it led to you making the____ team? Life works in funny ways. The only way to deal with it is to have faith, relax, and understand that everything happens for a reason. Even if it is incredibly hard to understand now.
