15 is a tough age for girls and boys. There’s 15 pieces of advice I wish I could go back and give myself at 15 years old. Here they are:

1. Love yourself.

Appreciate yourself. You are an incredible human being and never forget that. You deserve to be happy. Don’t let the bad times get the best of you. Remember who you are, and love who you are.

2. Be confident.

Show the world what you are capable of. You are extremely smart and talented. You may not feel like it now, but you are. Express it. Be yourself and be proud of who you are.

3. Do your best.

Things may get hard and you make not want to try anymore, but don’t give in. You can’t give up, you need to focus on doing the best you can. Even if that’s just getting out of bed and heading to school for the day. If that’s the best you can do that day, that’s great! You did your best and that’s all the matters.

4. Smile.

Please smile. Get up every morning, look in the mirror and smile. No, not that fake smile to humor me. The genuine smile. The smile that everyone loves and wants to see. And yes, the braces will eventually come off too.

5. Be kind.

If you see someone sitting alone, go sit with them. It might make their day. If someone’s getting picked on, stand up for them. Have their back. Compliment people and say hi to people. Be the kind person we both know you are.

6. Be positive.

Every day, I want you to write down at least 1 positive thing that happened to you or that you did that day. Focus on the positives. Remember the good times. Try to take the good out of a bad situation.

7. Be strong.

I know things will get hard but you are a fighter. You can fight through the hard times and learn from them. You will get through it, I know you can and will. You can take on anything

8. Believe in yourself.

You can do amazing things. You will do amazing things. Don’t cut yourself short. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You can do anything if you’re dedicated and put your mind towards it.

9. You matter.

Your friends care about you. Your family cares about you. Your teachers care about you. So many people love and care about you. It may seem like that’s not the case, but I can promise you, it is.

10. Forgive.

Holding on to grudges isn’t healthy. People make mistakes, so forgive them. You don’t have to forget about the mistake. But holding a grudge is holding onto negative energy. And holding onto negative energy just hurts you. So, learn to forgive and move on.

11. Your feelings are valid.

I know you constantly put others before yourself. But sometimes you need to think of you first. If you feel a certain way, don’t dismiss it. Your feelings matter and deserve to be recognized. And remember, it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to cry.

12. Follow your gut.

If something feels like it’s not right, it most likely isn’t right. Trust your gut, it knows more than you give it credit for.

13. Don’t stop loving.

If you get hurt, don’t let it ruin love for you. You have a big heart and never change that about yourself. Don’t stop loving, it’s one of the many things you’re great at.

14. Make friends.

Be friendly. Smile. Have fun. Try being more outgoing. You can’t expect everyone to go out of their way to talk to you. You need to meet them halfway, at least.

15. It gets better.

I know at 15 years old it feels like every little thing is the end of the world. But I can vouch for every person who’s told you, “it gets better.” It does get better. You’ll make it through this. I promise. Soon all of this will be a simple memory.

Say this out loud:

I am loved

I am brave

I am appreciated

I am beautiful

I am strong

I am powerful