I am young. I haven't been alive to experience many moments of sadness, and if I have, I have had a great support network of family members and friends to guide me. However, even though I am young, I have made mistakes, which have taught me some incredible things.

1. Success Is Not Only Hard Work.

I have heard people say countless times that if you want to achieve a goal all you have to do is perform some hard work. Wow, it's that easy? Wrong. We live in an unfair world. No matter how hard we work, we can still be robbed of the thing we want most. Success is equal parts hard work and opportunity. Prepare, dream, and work, but at the end, if the opportunity never manifests itself, it is not your fault.

2. Less Is More.

As I have progressed in the world, one thing that has been especially difficult for me has been creating friendships. I thought that having hundreds of average friends was more important than having ten incredible friends. However, I have learned that quality is more important than quantity— in anything.

3. Not Everything Is Clear.

As a teenager, in the social media generation, I have recognized that not all posts on the web are true. Social media is heavily fabricated. People only post when they are doing something incredible. I mean, no one wants to see someone post a picture of doing the dishes or laundry, right?

4. Everything Does Not Happen For A Reason.

I use to be a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason. However, being apart of a world where violence, adversity, and horror are common, I don’t want to accept that these things happen for a reason. The little girl who lost her father and the mother who died are events that do not contain a reason. Sometimes things just happen. They cannot be explained.

5. You Will Be Ok.

You have made it this far. You have pushed through difficult times. You have experienced happiness. Any moments that have left you feeling completely lost will pass and you will become stronger than ever. Life happens, but the way you deal with it or react is the most important.