I lived in a semi small conservative town with my parents, my little brother, and thankfully my grandparents living 10 minutes away my entire life. My mother and grandmother have taught me how to cook, clean, and grow a beautiful garden. My brother, stepdad, and grandfather have always tried to get me to be the kind of girl who likes fishing and hunting and what not, so I've picked up a few things from them along the years. They've all taught me valuable things that I know I will need at one point or another, and I am beyond thankful for that, but they couldn't teach me everything.

I was never taught how hard school was going to be. I don't mean just the work either, I mean everything that comes along with it. I didn't know that pop quizzes were actually a thing (because believe me, I thought those only happen to Timmy in "The Fairy Odd Parents"). I didn't know that teachers were ever going to be as harsh as they are. I wish I would've know how hard it was to actually find friends that you got along with and I wish I would've.

Another thing I wasn't taught growing up was how much it hurt when someone left you. Whether it's a friend or your significant other, it still hurts like hell and there isn't anything you can do to prepare for it. I wish I would've known that the people I care about can and will easily turn their backs on you. I wish my mom would've taught me earlier on that “I love you” isn't always true. I wish she would've said, “Jessica, no one is exactly who they say they are.”

I will always wish that someone would've told me that I don't need other people in my life. I wish I would've known that I didn't need the love I thought that I did and that I would be okay if they left. I wish I would've known that it's OK to not always be OK, and to ask for help sometimes or that things in my life would break a little here and there. I wish I would've known it would be OK.

When I was little I wish I would've known that the haircut I was going to give myself was not going to be as pretty as I thought it was or yes, mom will get mad if you color on the walls and tape your brother to the kitchen chairs when she isn't looking. I wish my family would've told me that it wasn't acceptable to run around with no shoes on and live a diet of only potatoes for most of my life.

I always have and always will be extremely proud of where I've came from and how I've grown up. I'll always be thankful for my grandmother teaching me how to plant seeds in the garden and pick them when they sprout. I'll always thank my brother for teaching me how to cast a fishing pole and everyone else for everything valuable I've learned. I just wish I would've learned a tiny bit more.