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Everlasting Reality Drama,
Our Soap Opera . . .
I wish someone would have told me...
I’m the type that believes everything happens for a reason. I have no regrets. Every mistake I’ve made, every wrong turn I’ve taken has molded me into the person I am today. I’m stronger for it and I’ve learned a hell of a lot from it. Of course, there are some things I went thru during my teenage years that I would have liked to have been better prepared for. There are plenty of questions I wish I could’ve answered without the turmoil and strife, but the beauty of being a teenager is not arriving at your destination, it’s all the twists and turns you take while finding your way there. Those unexpected detours are what determine the kind of adult you will be. Often times they are also those foolish things that drives our parents crazy. We still have to find our way nonetheless, right? We have to choose who we want to be, where we want to go, how we should act, and why we should act that way. It’s a lot to handle, but it’s all a part of growing up.
Now, as I close out my teen years and I’m becoming more in tune with who I am and what I want, I’ve learned to accept my mistakes for what they are. All in all, there are a few things I wish someone would have told me, certain things I might have avoided if someone had shed a little light on them beforehand.
#1. It’s okay to change your mind!
In high school I began to feel the pressure. I had my parents, teachers, counselors, and even random people putting the idea in my head that I needed to have everything figured out. After a while I got so tired of hearing those same questions “What do you want to be when you grow up?” What are your plans? Sometimes you just don’t know! Even when I felt like I had a plan all set and figured out, something new sparked my interest and I immediately felt two steps behind. Don’t ever be afraid to find your way. Every person’s journey is different and as long as YOU are happy with your decisions nothing else matters.
#2. People change, in other words, friends will come and go.
I am my own person and I never apologize for that. My dad always told me to “be a leader, not a follower.” Although every teen has those moments when they feel they need to “fit in”. We don’t like be the only one not going to the Friday night party, the only one without a date to the Valentine’s Day dance, or even the only one wearing last year’s clothes on the first day of school. By the time I was a senior in high school the people I’d been so close with in junior high, I wasn’t even speaking to. That can mess with your self-esteem, your confidence. I began to question my individuality, thinking that maybe I should be trying to “fit in” just to keep those friends. It took me awhile to be comfortable in my own skin, but I got there. People grow apart. So, I take my dad’s advice and remember that “fitting in” is not something I have to do, it is a choice, one that I choose not to make.
#3. Don’t try to become independent too fast.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, although realizing it was one of my hardest lessons learned. It’s always been hard for me to ask for things. I’ve always tried to get what I want on my own by any means necessary. Contrary to what some adults think, teenagers get stressed too. I’ve learned that asking for help does not make weak, in fact it makes me stronger because I’ve shown courage in doing so. Enjoy being young, trust me when you get older and the bills start coming in your name and not your parent’s you’ll want those years back.
Last but not least…
#4. Dreams are meant to be attained.
Giving up is taking the easy way out. Need I say more?
Even though I didn’t have someone whispering these truths in my ear during the times I needed them most, I still learned them, the hard way. Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. So, this is my way of sharing those lessons with other teens. One day you may have your own list and hopefully you will share it with someone else so that their journey may be a little bit easier.
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