Dear Fellow Teenagers,
We were in such a rush to grow up. What were we thinking? We all could not wait until our 13th birthday and we were finally teenagers. My 13th birthday feels like yesterday and now I am one week into being 19, my last year as a teenager. Here are a few thing I've learned in my past six years as a teenager.
Act Your Age
There is no point in trying to appear older than you are. It's okay to be mature, but one of the best parts of being young is being able to make mistakes. Mistakes you can learn from and carry with you as you age. Don't try to grow up too fast because before you know it you you'll be at a point where you are wishing you could go back to an easier time. This also applies to the reverse way. Act mature when needed in situations and try to leave your middle school self in middle school.
Don't Stress Too Much
Yes, high-school is hard, but from what I've heard is that the real world is harder. We have the rest of our lives to stress the big things like taxes, college debt, home insurance, but right now we get to just live. Don't stress the small things like your crush not texting you back, or failing one quiz, or trying to find the best lighting for a photo. This is the time in our lives that we should live freely without stress. We are allowed and expected to make mistakes, it's ok.
Learn From Your Mistakes
As I said, the teenage years are a time for making mistakes, but we should try not to make the same mistake too many times. Mistakes help us grow only if we learn from them and use them to better ourselves. Failing is a part of life, but it is what we do after we fail that shows our true character. We may make the same mistake 3-4 times before we finally get it, and that is ok as long as we do get it and are able to pick ourselves up after each time and carry through.
Be Kind
It may not seem like it now, but the things you say to people stay with them for a very long time. We are all at that stage of feeling insecure with who we are. You may not always know what someone is going through. The best way to help anyone is to always great them with a smile and a positive attitude. In this day and age, it is easy to hurt someone just by a simple post on social media. Always think before you say or post something, even if it was just suppose to be a 'joke'.
Although I have learned so much as a teenager, I know I still have much more to learn. I plan to use this last year to explore more and to live it up while I still can before the real world hits. I hope to enjoy one last summer vacation before my beach days turn into days at an internship and eventually a job. I hope I am able to make more mistakes without harsh consequences. But mostly I hope I get to spend as most time i can with my friends before our schedules get too busy. So, to all my fellow teens, enjoy these years while you can.
Sincerely,
A Teen An Expiration Date
