I'd like to begin by telling you that this year will be an emotional rollercoaster. You're finally settling into the routine of high school, but you and I both know that you still have a lot to figure out. You will have more freedom than ever before, but also a lot of new responsibilities. I warn you not to get lost in the excitement. You'll make some mistakes and you'll endure some heartbreaks, and that's perfectly normal. Through it all, just make sure you don't lose sight of who and what really matters to you. At 15, you may not want to hear this advice, but I promise it's worth your time. Remember these important things and you'll make it to 16, 17, and beyond before you know it.
1. Make Time For Your Friends
When life gets complicated or a little awkward, know that your best friends will always be there for you. No matter how busy you get, be sure you make time to spend with them. You can always be open and honest with them because they care about you more than you could ever imagine. High school is stressful. Relationships can be complicated. Sports are competitive. Spending time with your friends is the perfect distraction from the chaos of it all.
2. Ask For Help When You Need It
You do not know the answer to everything, and you're not supposed to. There is no need to pretend that you have your life together. Trust me, anyone who claims they have their life together at 15 is lying. Homework is confusing. Means girls are not an urban legend. Mixed signals are a real life thing, especially with a vulnerable teenage heart. When you don't understand something or someone, please do not be afraid to ask for help and advice from the people who care about you.
3. Be Honest About Your Mental Health
While it's important that you take care of your body by exercising and eating well, you must remember to take care of your noggin too. There is a negative stigma surrounding mental health issues and that is not OK. This might make you think that you're alone in your struggles, or that this only happens to only a specific type of person, but I need you to understand that what you're going through is perfectly normal. You are not alone in your struggles. When someone who cares about you asks about your mental state, just be honest with them. Take advantage of your awesome support system.
4. Listen To Your Mom
Before she had you, your mom had a life of her own. Don't forget that she struggled through her teenage years, too. She encourages you to clean your room because it's an important life skill. She doesn't let you go to the concert the night before your geometry exam because, contrary to popular belief, you cannot learn a semester's worth of math the morning before an exam. As often as possible, tell her that you love and appreciate her. You mean the world to her and sometimes she just needs to be reminded of how thankful you are to have her in your life.
5. Don't Let Boys Define You
This one's really important. The day you realize that no one is going to ask you to the Homecoming dance, you will stare at yourself in the mirror. You will not like what you see. You'll constantly compare yourself to your peers, wishing you were thinner, prettier, and more outgoing like them. You'll wonder what makes you so undesirable. This may be difficult for you to understand right now, but I need you to know that dating in high school is nothing like the real world. The man who deserves your heart is the man who sees your true beauty, inside and out. You might not meet him until your 20s, and that is perfectly OK. You have a lifetime to find your soulmate, but only a year to be 15.
6. Stand Up For Yourself
People will try to walk all over you. They will pick on you to try and feel better about themselves. When a girl gives you a backhanded compliment, it's because she doesn't have enough self-confidence to compliment you on your true beauty. Someone else in her life has made her feel inferior, and she is trying to compensate by doing the same to you. Don't let her insecurities get you down, and remember that you do not deserve to be treated this way. This may sound cheesy, but I really do think the best thing to do in a situation like this is to keep calm and be honest with her about how her words make you feel. If she continues to pick on you and make you feel bad about yourself, don't be too embarrassed to talk to an adult about it.
7. Remember That There Are Greater Things Ahead
Being 15 can be awkward and stressful sometimes, but it's also a very exciting time in your life. Enjoy the happy days. Remember that the not-so-good days will not last forever. Be the best person you can be, but don't fret when that person isn't exactly the person you want to see in the mirror. After all, you have a whole life ahead of you to grow into the extraordinary person you are destined to be.
