I am 20 years old and it turns out, I was wrong about A LOT of stuff until now.
There are a few things I wish I would have known when I was younger. Hopefully the people reading this that are younger can learn a few valuable life lessons about living from day to day and growing up...or maybe repeat my own mistakes. Either way, it will help you get to be the person you are supposed to be at the age 21ish.
1. High school popularity truly and honestly does not matter at all.
I never particularly strived to be popular or make people like me. However, I did sometimes care way too much about how people saw me. Do not ever waste your time caring about what other people think of you...or forcing yourself to be friends with someone you can not stand just because everyone likes them. NOBODY in the real world cares if you were popular back in the day.
2. You go to college and you find your real friends.
You might keep in touch with 1 or 2 people from high school, but not many more than that. The friends you make in college are so important. They are more like a family and it feels weird when you don't see them for a day/weekend. (Because they have real families too). You are likely to stay close with them after graduation and because they are the only ones who are with you during the time in your life where you grow up a little and change A LOT.
3. Your mother is always right.
About everything. Love. Friendship. Health. The big and little things. She's been through it all, so seriously, listen to her. I swear, separating your laundry into darks, lights, and mediums really does help. No one wants their favorite white shirt stained blue because you washed it with your dark blue jeans. (Like I did). She really does know it all. Your dad also knows it all believe it or not. Every time he has showed you how to cut the grass or check the oil in your car...it really does come in handy. Or even that one time he has showed you how to start the grill to make dinner...ALL useful tips you will use in the future.
4. Be on time and be dependable.
You do not want to have a reputation as someone who is always late and disorganized. No one likes a late, always flaky person that can't even remember your birthday. Start your on-time habit early on, and you'll have no problem with it in the real world when it actually matters.
5. TAKE NAPS.
Take as many as possible....while you still can.
6. Be nice to people because you never know what someone is going through.
So smile and say hello. You never know, it could make their day.
I like who I am at 20 years old and I wish I would have spend more of my teenage years believing that.
