1. Don’t Settle

Don’t settle. Don’t participate in activities you don’t like. Don’t eat gross food. Don’t associate yourself with people who are not good for you. You’ve got to find what you love and do it. Don’t think that your dreams or aspirations can’t come true because they are not realistic. Make them realistic. The only way to do something amazing is to do what you love. If you haven’t found what you love, keep looking. You are capable of doing extraordinary things! So work hard toward what you truly want. If you’re not on the right path, get on a new one.

2. Smile at People in the Halls

Despite the occasional, and by occasional I mean very often, moments I forget to wear my contacts, I make it my objective to wave or smile at people in the halls when I see them. There’s this idea that not acknowledging people you know in the halls is less awkward than being friendly and saying hi. This is false. You’ll feel better, they will feel better and you would have pushed yourself out of your comfort zone, which is something to be proud of! Also, even if they ignore you, it’s 99.9% of the time because they didn’t notice you and it’s not the end of the world.

3. It’s Possible to Vent and Gossip Without Being Hurtful

You’re human, it’s normal to gossip and or vent to your friends. However, it’s possible to do this without being hurtful or spiteful. Instead of saying offensive things about someone or a situation, you can always express how you feel without insult or spite. When you vent, instead of focusing on attacking the person, you can always just express how you feel in a respectful way. Try to refrain from harsh judgment and bitter conclusions, try to be understanding.

4. Keep an Open-Mind

It’s good to have conversations with people who have different views than you, but stay calm and keep an open mind. You don’t have to agree with them, but you could learn something about the topic, a person, an idea or even yourself. Opposing conversations can spark new innovations and beliefs.

5. Mental Health is More Important than Homework

This might a bit controversial, and don’t get me wrong, school and homework are very important, but so is your mental health. Take a break and find time to relax. Focus on resting and doing something you enjoy. You most likely won’t be effective in studying or finishing an assignment if your mindset is out of sorts.

6. Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend Should be Your Friend, But Not Your Only Friend.

Having a romantic relationship can be fun and exciting, but don’t forget about your other relationships. You should spend a lot of time with the people you care about, but that also includes your friends and family. They are just as important.

7. The More You Judge Others, the More You Judge Yourself

If you constantly look at people with harsh judgment, criticizing every aspect of them, you will do the same to yourself. When you catch yourself thinking negatively about someone, try to counteract it by focusing on something positive about them, or just don’t think about them at all. This also includes the same for yourself. Aim to be kind to yourself as well as others.

8. Never Take Your Friends for Granted

At the end of the day a true, real friend is who will be there for you. Whether it’s your friends from school or your mom or dad, your sister or brother, whoever. They are the ones who will share some of the best moments in your life, pick you up when you are down and be there by your side. Remember to appreciate them.

9. It’s Okay to be Quiet

You don’t always have to be the loudest person in the room. If you’re naturally quiet in certain settings, like me, it’s okay! You do you! Don’t force yourself to be someone you’re not.

10. Be Kind to Your Teachers

Always show respect to your teachers and be polite. They have a lot to handle, plus they have their own personal lives with problems and stress just like you. Imagine when you get frustrated by one person at school, they might have to deal with dozens of kids that frustrate them five times a week. Even if they might not be your favorite and if there is a conflict, address it with an appropriate response and as much maturity as possible. Teachers won’t respond to bad attitudes and rude behavior. It’s never a bad thing to be on good terms with your teachers. It makes your life easier and theirs.

11. Don’t Make Important Decisions When You’re Tired

Have you ever wondered why you might be more expressive or emotional during the night? It’s because our brains lose their capacity for balance and control. In scientific terms, the emotional centers of the brain are over 60% more reactive under conditions of sleep deprivation than when we obtained a normal night of sleep. So instead of staying awake and possibly do something that you might regret the next morning, just get some sleep.

12. Be Active

Exercising can be an insipid task compared to doing just about anything else. However, it is important and it can be fun. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should start running 5 miles at an 8-minute pace, but you could go for a walk with a friend or a bike ride at Flatwoods. Being active releases endorphins and endorphins make you happy!

13. It’s Not a Big Deal

When you’re young, you tend to be a bit more overdramatic and overcritical than when you’re older. It sucks, but it’s true. So, I realized that almost everything we worry about is really not that big of a deal. Whether you messed up during a class presentation, embarrassed yourself in front of someone you like, or didn’t do so well on a Pre-Calc test, these things are not catastrophic. I guarantee that no one in class will remember your slip up after a few minutes. People tend to be consumed in their own life and problems, just like yourself, to focus on anything else. Your crush probably didn’t even notice the thing you were embarrassed about and you can always compensate for a bad test grade. In other words, there is always a solution to your problems and if you take a step back, you’ll see that it’s not the end of the world and it will be okay.

14. Don’t Define Yourself by Numbers

Social media such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. can be a lot of fun, but it’s easy to get immersed in that domain and it’s important to find that balance of how deep you let yourself submerge. Remember that it’s awesome to share yourself and your life with others, but keep your self-esteem in regards to yourself and not the amounts of favorites or attention you receive on that platform. Getting a lot of likes and attention might make you feel good about yourself for a short while, but it’s only temporary because it’s artificial. Your value is deeper and more complex than the person you appear as online. Remember that you’re amazing and wonderful despite how many followers or likes you receive.

15. Liking/Crushing on Someone Who Doesn’t Like You is Temporary

When you develop a crush or feelings for someone, it can be either terrible, wonderful or both. In the chance that they don’t feel the same way, remember to not be so hard on yourself for whatever reason it is. Whether you think you’re not good enough, or you don’t think you have a chance or maybe you feel like you’re not in control of your emotions. You can’t control how you feel and the more you try, the harder it’ll be to let go. Be kind to yourself and the situations. Think about all the times you’ve liked someone before and got over them. You will get over this person too. This feeling is temporary and you will get through this!

16. TRY in School

This one seems kind of obvious, but not everyone does it. School is probably not your favorite place, but you’re here anyway, so might as well make the best of it. Find clubs or sports you enjoy and join them, it makes the school year go by faster and a lot more enjoyable. Force yourself to do your homework, it really won’t take that much time. Try to get to know the students at your school, they probably aren’t as terrible as you imagine. And if your classes are too hard or trivial, talk to your guidance counselors and teachers. If they know you want to do well, they will help you in doing so. Don’t waste away a significant amount of your time.

17. It’s Not Too Late

There is this misconception that you need to know what you’re going to do with the rest of your life when senior year rolls around. This isn’t true. You don’t have to have the outline of the rest of your life by 18. Life is unpredictable and unexpected. Focus on staying true to who you are and try your best in whatever situation you’re in. Along the way, you will find what you want to do. Focus your attention on the little things because they are what make up the big things. Don’t think too far ahead all the time. Concentrate on what needs to be done at the moment, whether it’s a math assignment or catching up with a friend. And if you thought you knew what you were going to do with your life, but for whatever reason, changed your mind, that’s okay too. It’s never too late to try again or start fresh, no matter your age.