Up to this point, I am pretty happy with the way I have lived my life. Nevertheless, I must admit that I have struggled along the way and have had some difficult moments. Paradoxically, such struggles and difficult moments only make me appreciate my achievements even more. All the same, I have not been perfect; I have my regrets and would perhaps do some things better if I could go back to my 15-year-old self.
One of the things I would say to my 15-year-old self is that you do not have to be popular at school or in your neighborhood to succeed in life. Teenagers often strive to earn popularity within their peer circles, which often drive them to unpopular behavior such as bullying. Therefore, avoid such pressures as they may eventually lead you to failure or condemn you to a life of regret. Always strive to be yourself in every circumstance as this is what will make you discover your strengths and weaknesses and thus focus on achieving your goals and dreams.
Another piece of advice I would give to my younger self is that do not take family for granted but rather make the most of it. This is because a time will come when you will not have much time to share with your loved ones. Do not argue when your parents ask you to accompany them to church because you want to hang out with friends. At home, do not remain glued on your smartphone chatting with your friends instead of conversing with your parents and siblings. A time will come when they too will not be available for you. When you grow up, such family meetings could become increasingly rare, and your smartphone could become your closest companion not out of choice but due to circumstances.
I would also warn myself against inappropriate relationships. Flirting may sound like fun during teen age, but its consequences may ruin your whole life. At your age, you will be tempted to form romantic relationships with your peers, but you should always resist that urge as this is not the right time to do so. You will have a lot of time to do this when you grow up. As an adult, you will have a better sense of self-control, which will make it easier for you to steer clear of inappropriate relationships. You will also be better able to judge your relationships with others and determine the genuine ones.
Additionally, I would tell myself that do not listen to your haters and those who discourage you from doing the right thing. The greatest weapons to success in life is determination and believing in yourself. What people say or think about you does not have much bearing on your life unless you allow it to erode your confidence and to take over your inner believe. The best thing to do is to surround yourself with people who at you and invoke positive thoughts in you. Such people will always help you to fight off any discouragement that you may face as you nurture your dreams.
Lastly, I would tell myself to always listen and heed to the advice of my parents and teachers. At times, you will feel as if their advice does not make sense, but such advice will make sense to you in the end. Heeding to their advice will not only steer you to success, but will also impact your morals positively.
