15 things every teenager needs to hear

I remember when I was much younger, as a teenager; with raging hormones, pimples (soooo many), and the feeling of invincibility coursing through my veins. I was the superstar of my own story, but I was still very confused as to what that story actually was. I’ve discovered, like many of us out there, that there are a lot of things that could have helped me navigate my story and discovery much easier – if only I had heard them.

Well, to all the teenagers out there, we’re here to make sure you DON’T miss out on that gift. These are the things every teenager needs to hear – the truths in many dimensions.

1. Surprisingly, hard work is not everything.

Surprising, right?

But hard work IS important – because laziness will get you nowhere. But sometimes you also need to work smarter. On that note, tradition is also not everything. Learn new things and don’t assume things about others when you’ve never met them, or if you met them first on a bad day.

2. You will make mistakes.

Shaa make small ones

A lot. With friends, with actions, with life choices at times. Not everybody makes the same mistakes, and don’t even try to make them all. Learn from the mistakes of others, and listen to those older than you – the good ones o, not the bad ones. No matter what, always pick yourself up, because you can recover from anything, no matter what it is, even if it seems like your world wants to end. It’s okay to be wrong – as long as you accept your mistakes and learn from it, and makeup for what you can.

3. Not everyone will like you, and that’s okay.

"I don't need your likes"

You CAN’T make everybody like, try as you might – and that’s okay. Know anyway that you are valued. People will still love you. You are worth it. Don’t get mad over stupid things – sometimes we all understand things a little differently. Drama is pointless. Avoid it. You are enough. Surround yourself with people that look like your future.

4. Popularity is overrated.

You will bow down to me in the future anyways.

You will eventually discover that, most times, what other people think doesn’t matter much at all. Don’t let anyone pressure you into being what you’re not. You don’t need 500 people affirming what you do. And remember this – SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT EVERYTHING!! You can’t be judged on how amazing you are by the number of likes, followers or even comments. The media is a scam. You WILL learn this.

5. Relationships as a teenager are NOT for everyone.

It's not by force to fall in love oo.

At this age, we all tend to be caught up in the glamour of emotions and physical discoveries – the truth is, most of the time it doesn’t last. You will eventually discover, that you do not need validation by another person’s love to know that you are special. People do care about you. Do not force yourself into anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Live happily. Do not choose what’s convenient. Choose what matters (especially for the long-run)

6. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Don't be too proud to ask for your wings

Learn everything good you can, from everyone you can. You’ll be asked for help by those younger than you too, and you know how fulfilling it is to be part of someone’s success story. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – this is the time to learn and discover, and sometimes you can’t do it all by yourself.

7. Most people will forget about the person you WERE, if you show them the person you ARE.

Yesterdays geek, tomorrows Mark Zuckerberg.

Evolve. Change. The people around you will do the same too. Don’t hold onto fears of the mistakes or silly things you did when you were younger, or the fact that you did not seem as amazing in the past. Show the world todays’ version of you. The present is what matters right now – the world actually forgets the past very quickly.

8. Spend time with family.

These memories will bless you forever.

Father, mother, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins. Keep in touch as often as you can – even if you don’t want to. You WILL grow apart, a little or a lot, as you grow older; and sometimes memories will be all you have left. These connections and memories will mean a lot in the future, even if it’s just the occasional N10,000 you get from an aunty every month because she remembers you.

9. Sometimes friendships will just end – out of nowhere.

...

It happens. It’s strange, and sometimes for no good reason. Maybe you got other friends, maybe you have different interests now. Whatever it is, don’t be sad and move forward. People are everywhere. But while you are still friends, don’t hesitate to appreciate and love them. We often tend to take for granted, people and things we are familiar with.

10. Depression is a real thing

You will beat it.

This actually affects both genders – male and female. It doesn’t mean something is wrong with you, but sometimes it has to do with repressed emotions or memories, or unresolved issues. Some people don’t find out the cause of their depression for years, but it doesn’t mean you are less capable than anyone else. You CAN overcome it. There IS hope. You have a fire in you that can’t be broken by the darkness. Though depression may AFFECT you, it does not need to DEFINE you.

11. Save money

Invest in the future. (The good kind)

Practice saving, and cutting expenses to enable you to have a sense of self-reliance. A lot of the things we tend to buy as teenagers are usually unhelpful or useless - and years after, you may realize that you have an unhealthy obsession with spending and burning money. Buy good clothes, and shoes, and maintain them. You don’t need every spring and summer collection or every latest type of phone.

12. Be healthy

A healthy teenager really IS a happy teenager.

Exercise NOW!! Don’t wait till you ‘get fat’, or ‘get older’. Today is the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you will ever be. Get your mental psyche used to exercising, you’ll need it for much later. Trust me on this – from personal experience.

13. Listen more, and speak less - when you have to.

There is wisdom out there.

I’ll be dreadfully honest here – a lot of us didn’t do this when we were teenagers. We thought we knew everything, could fix everything, and were everything. The major flaw of this, is that we didn’t stop to take in the experiences of people much older than us, and then ended u wishing people had told us so many things - when in reality they were doing it all along. The world has a lot to say. You should listen first to the right voices, and then add your own.

14. Your parents only want the best for you.

No seriously, they do.

Not everyone is a great parent, and yes – even parents make mistakes. Also, due to generation gaps and differences in current trends in society, you may feel like your parents are out of touch with “what’s cool” or “the way things are”. It happens to us all, but you should remember that your parents were once your age, and did a lot of the things you’re doing – if not more. But every good parent will want you to be better than them, and avoid making the mistakes that they made. Sometimes parents tend to overcompensate for this, and end up alienating you with their approach. But in the end - they really do love you, and you will most likely be amazed at how awesome your parents are when you grow up even more.

15. Adulting is a scam.

Give me back my childhood, Dr. Time.

Trust me - once you get much older, you will wish you could turn back time and go back to your childhood days. Do things you never did, say things you never said, learn things you never did. Make the best of your years and make as many good friendships as you can – the types that make you a better person. Live life to the fullest – if you don’t learn to enjoy yourself now, you never will, and enjoyment is really not always parties, sex or booze. Sometimes it’s the simple things -

Do you have any advice for other teenagers out there? Feel free to drop a comment or two below. You never know, you could change someones' life, or help someone from making a terrible mistake. You could be the one answer they’ve been searching for.

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