I graduated high school 15 years ago. Okay. Hold on a second. I never realized how old that made me sound until I actually wrote that sentence down.
Dang.
Where did the time go?
Well, a lot has happened in those 15 years, and as I prepare to turn the ripe old age of 33 (my Jesus year), I’ve been reflecting on a lot of hard lessons I’ve learned along the way. If only there had been older adults giving me advice during my high school years, perhaps I could have been saved from a lot of heartache and bad decisions.
But, since I didn’t listen to my parents, I made a New Year’s Resolution to develop a time machine, crank it up to 88 mph, and have a little chat with myself.
If this were actually possible, here are 22 things I would tell the high school me:
- Popularity means nothing once you graduate. Focus on growing as a person.
- Sit down with your parents to learn what bills really look like.
- Your metabolism will slow down. Develop good nutrition habits now.
- MTV will stop playing music, yet somehow remain on the air.
- You won’t see most of your friends after you graduate. Invest more time in your faith and your family.
- You’re better off with a reliable used car than taking a loan on a new car that will take 5 years to pay off.
- You may be shy, but you NEED to network.
- Learn how to cook some basic meals.
- When you’re in your 30s, there will already be a remake of “Boy Meets World.”
- Eating out all the time kills your bank account and expands your waistband.
- There’s no extra credit in the real world. Work hard everyday.
- Ask that girl out. If she rejects you, your life will still move on.
- If you think gas is expensive now, just wait.
- Your parents are smarter and A LOT more stressed than you.
- You may not like youth group right now, but you will be a youth minister one day. God has a great sense of humor.
- Don’t make fun of your dad when he falls asleep at 9 p.m. after a long day at work. One day you’re going to do the same.
- I know it feels scary, but go to Confession regularly.
- I know you hate running, but one day, you will run a marathon. Crazy huh?
- Stop using bad language. It’s a hard habit to break.
- It’s okay to play video games, but find another hobby too. Your wife will appreciate it.
- You can learn more about yourself in 10 minutes of silence than you can from just about anything else.
- Perfection is impossible in this life. Focus on improving instead.
High school can be hard. Sometimes you may think you have everything figured out. I know I did. Honestly, most of the time, I still think that way. But, it’s not a bad idea every now and then to heed the advice of someone who’s older and been there. I wish I had, and if I did, perhaps this list would’ve been a little smaller.
Teens: What are some things you wish you could learn more about as you grow into an adult? (Comment on our Facebook)
Adults: What are some things you would tell the high school you? (Comment on our Facebook)
