Looking back on my teenage years, I know that I have gained an endless amount of knowledge and experience from all the events that have taken place in my life, good and bad. The bad has included moments I didn't think I could continue on with the daily struggles of life, the moments where I just wanted to throw my hands up, and the moments at which I didn't think I was loved. Some of the highlights of my life have included seeing the laughs of people I love, knowing that I am loved in return, dancing until the sun came up, and enjoying the company of strangers in a country totally unknown to me.
With these trials and tribulations, I've learned a few things along the way:
1. Life will always throw you a new curveball as soon as you think everything is alright.
2. You will have many loves in your life, but it is the ones who stick around after the worst moments that matter the most.
3. You will change your mind more than you can imagine, but the end result is your only concern.
4. You're not meant to be friends with everybody you encounter.
5. Even though you might be friends with someone now, it does not guarantee that you'll be friends with them five years from now.
6. Just because you lose touch with someone, doesn't mean you can't just pick up where you left off.
7. If you haven't found your place in life, it just means that you haven't yet found your tribe.
8. Everything is a catalyst for the next move in life.
9. Always remember to question authority; it will keep the young wise and the old modernized.
10. It's okay to cry--tears are not a weakness. They're a sign of strength.
11. Never push yourself to the point of breaking, but push yourself to the point that you're challenged more than you've ever been challenged before.
12. Make sure you don't get stuck in the same routine--a perpetual future is not a good one.
13. Life is not meant to be a smooth ride down the yellow brick road, that's why they made obstacles for Dorothy in the movie.
14. Take time to appreciate the small things, they won't be at your disposal forever.
15. Take a mental picture of moments in which you're the happiest, so that you can remember them for the times where you're the saddest.
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
