If I could go back to being 17, I would in a matter of seconds.
However, I would also tell my 17 year old self a lot of advice, prior to getting into my early adult years.
Looking back at being 17, I sort of wish I planned ahead and prepared for my early twenties, but also, then I know that I more then likely wouldn’t have been able to enjoy my youth, and what was suppose to be one of the best years of my life as a teenager.
Obviously growing up in Ohio, there was not much to do except go to the mall on the weekends with some of your best friends, or to catch a late night movie, so I did what ‘most’ 17 year olds do in Ohio, I partied my butt off.
To make matters worse, I held every single one of those parties. Yeah, awful idea. If you’re 17, and you’re reading this, don’t do that. It didn’t help that the majority of my friends contributed to the parties as well.
So, if I could go back in time, and tell the 17 year old party pants that I was, a few valuable life lessons, here’s what I would say:
1. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DRINK TO HAVE FUN
This was my biggest downfall. Living in a small suburb, it seemed about just what everybody was doing on their weekends. Drinking to me only causes more problems, if you’re not drinking responsibly. Also, you wake up feeling like sh**, and what did you accomplish? Partying?
You can be sober, and have just as much fun. : )
2. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY
This was another one of my mistakes. I wanted to be friends with everyone, and I was, but then I realized that the people I thought were my friends, weren’t really my friends. It just basically became one big emotional mess for me at 17. I would rather have 5 amazing friends, then be friends with 20 people that you’ll eventually end up loosing contact with after you leave school.
Your true friends and your real friends will show you that they care about you, so you should never have to question whether their really a friend.
3. MAKE USE OF TIME THAT YOU ONCE CONSIDERED ‘BOREDOM’
I always use to complain to my mom that I was always so ‘Bored’, so she would usually end up taking me out somewhere, whether it would be to shop, or just to walk around somewhere. I really wish I would have used this time to be creative, and start a hobby that I could blossom at in my twenties.
4. TAKE TIME ON CHOOSING WHERE YOUR NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE
For me, I totally rushed at applying to colleges. Believe it or not, the very first acceptance letter that I got in the mail, I immediately took the offer, and I was out the door. I didn’t even give the other colleges that I applied to a single chance. I wanted to get out of Ohio, and I wanted to get out fast.
Take your time on choosing where you want to direct your life when you graduate school, and turn 18. Don’t rush it! Give yourself plenty of time, and go through your different options.
Also, when you get to college, don’t rush through that, I made that mistake as well.
5. DON’T LET ANY OTHER OPINIONS HOLD YOU DOWN
I remember the first time that I told my dad that I was moving to California, he immediately shot it down. He told me I was out of mind, and I remember going up to my room for hours crying my eyes out.
It wasn’t until after I moved to California that he told me he was really proud of me, and that he was sorry for ever doubting me.
Remember that at the end of the day, it’s your life, and you only live once. You have one body, and one life, so do what makes you happy, without living through somebody else.
