You know the common question: "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Maybe you see yourself working at your dream job. Maybe you see yourself engaged or married. Maybe you see yourself starting a family. I feel like people (especially college students) get asked this question a lot. But, what about asking, "What do you wish you knew five years ago?" I mean, I was 15 five years ago; I was in the beginning of high school and thought I was on top of the world. Man, if only I knew how awesome my life would be five years later. So, here are nine things I wish I would've known five years ago.

1. Family is important.

At 15 all I wanted to do was escape my house and be with friends. God forbid if my mother asked me to clean my room or do the dishes! The last person I wanted to hang out with, or even talk to was my brother. But, now I am off on my own and don't get to see my family everyday like I did five years ago. I find myself missing them at random times throughout the day. I would tell myself to take advantage of the time you have with your family.

2. Don't chase the boys.

I thought I was so slow when it came to dating. I didn't have my first kiss until I was 16. All I wanted five years ago was to have a boyfriend, or at least have a boy like me. I now realize how much of a waste of time that was. I would tell myself that relationships will happen when they're supposed to. I would say to not jump on every opportunity you have in the dating world. And don't worry 15-year-old me, you find a good boy not too much later.

3. Focus in school.

I'm not saying I didn't have good grades in high school, but it took a lot for me to focus back then. I felt like I couldn't find the purpose behind all the core classes we had to take. Why am I writing this essay? Why do I need to know geometry? There was no reason behind it. But, now looking back I wish I would've focused more. I used to be happy with just passing, but now I'm worried if I'm under a 3.5 GPA. I would tell myself to push through high school and get the good grades so you can succeed when it is important in college.

4. Follow your passions.

Five years ago I never told anyone I was a band kid. I would tell everyone how I was in basketball instead. I tried to play off that I was a jock. For some reason, I thought that was cooler than being a musician. Later I realized music was my real passion, but I wish I would've followed that path sooner. Who knows what kind of musician I'd be now if I had. I would tell myself not to worry about what others thought and follow the passion that makes you the happiest.

5. It's O.K. to gain weight.

I remember five years ago I would tell myself, "Man, if I'm ever over ______ pounds I don't know what I'd do." How sad is that? I now know that if I am happy, then it shouldn't matter how I look. Yeah, maybe I want to lose some weight. But, it's not a priority like it was back then. Making sure I am happy and enjoying life comes first. How much easier would high school have been if I knew that?! I would tell myself to not worry about the number on the scale, but worry about how you feel.

6. Friends come and go.

Five years ago, I had a really big group of friends. We were those kids that took up two or three tables in the cafeteria. I thought that they would all be my friends from that point on. But of course, the older we got the more we all started doing our own thing. I was really bummed at first when my friends were starting to become distant. I would hold on to any little piece of friendship left and it wasn't healthy. I now realize that the good friends will stick around and the ones that are supposed to go will go. I would tell myself that it's okay for people to walk out of your life...they're only making room for better people.

7. Disconnect.

There were two things that mattered most to me five years ago: my phone and social media. It's like I had to update Facebook on every little thing I was doing! I know now that there are times to be connected, and there are times that you need to take your eyes off the screen and look at the world around you. I would tell myself that my phone is not the most important thing.

8. You don't have to make everyone happy.

Like I said earlier, I had a big group of friends. This made it hard when it came to hang outs and parties. Who do I invite? Who can I leave out? I was such a people-pleaser five years ago. Everyone had to be happy. Now, I have picked the people that are most important to me. I don't need to impress everyone around me. I would tell myself that you can't make everyone happy, but you can make yourself happy.

Would I change how my life was five years ago? No. I learned the lessons I was supposed to and I'm the person I am today because of that. Would it be cool to have known these things five years ago? Yes. High school would've been a breeze! But, I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I am happy with the life I have led so far. I can't even imagine what extraordinary things the future holds for me!