When you're 16, all you care about is the boy in your math class who you think is cute. You care about the most up-to-date drama and rumors, hoping none are about you. You care about getting asked to prom or that big test you have coming up. Yes, there are more important things to care about and some teens have it harder than others, but here are a few things I wish someone had said to me when I was 16...

Notice when your mom goes out of her way to pick you up from school early when it's snowing so you're not stuck on the bus, or worse, at the high school until the snow clears. Appreciate when your brother, who's in college, invites you to hang with his friends for the first time. Notice when your dad comes home, how he greets the dog or your mother and don't ever take for granted every night you go to bed in a safe home with parents who love you. Appreciate your family so much because I promise when you're older and sitting around a table, any argument or any dumb moment won't matter.

Make sure to remember what it felt like when the guy you liked or hell, even loved, completely broke you. Go forth in life with tenderness from knowing that heartache and be there for others who are experiencing it - no matter their age. Remember what if felt like to be laughed at or talked about behind your back because no matter what anyone says, some people never grow out of "being in high school" and even at 25, you might feel this sometimes or see others experiencing it and when you do, be empathetic. Don't forget what it felt like when you fought with your best friend and how upset you were. Always put your friendships above petty arguments and drama. True friendships will last through anything.

Put your phone down. This is so important because it wasn't as important when I was 16, but I still wish someone had told me this. Enjoy the time with your family. Enjoy the time with your friends. Enjoy doing things without staring at a screen in the middle of it. This is something that you will struggle with your whole life but in the end, your social media account doesn't need to broadcast to the world what you're doing at every second of every day. Just live your life and be proud knowing that you experienced it, not posted it.

Don't let people tell you that not caring is "cool." Caring is cool. Compassion is cool. Turning your back on something because you think ignoring it is the cool thing to do is straight up wrong. Speak up about passions. Speak up against hate that you see, against harshness, and against bullying. This can be extremely hard - I know I gave into peer pressure to do whatever was cool at times - but you don't have to. You can be better. You have a voice, so use it for good.

No matter how insignificant you feel, you have a heartbeat and that means that you have a purpose. If you think this life is too hard to make it until tomorrow, trust me and just give tomorrow a try. If it's still too hard, wait until the next day. People say it'll always get better, and as cliché as it sounds, it's true. It's not because someday you wake up and everything is perfect, but because you make the changes necessary to be happy and to survive. Trust me when I say that sometimes even just surviving a rough day can be hard - you'll have these days at 16, 26, 46, and your whole life - but on the days when you are happy, genuinely happy, and at peace with yourself, I promise that you'll see things got better.

Make sure you use your young years before any rent is due or real jobs get in the way, to be a hard working, genuine, fun, loving, caring, passionate, kid. Enjoy those years because they really are some of the best.