If you could go back and tell your teenage self one piece of advice...

[Agayek]

*Shrugs.*

We didn't. Or we went overboard grasping for the wrong days, destroying what we should have been working for in our eagerness.

Nothing wrong with a bit of reflection... often, the sorts of mistakes you made before are the same ones you're prone to now. Doesn't do to dwell, obviously, but a few minutes of careful thought are a good thing.

Fair enough, I just find it a little depressing that there's so many people with so many relatively substantial regrets. Thinking about how you may better react now is definitely worthwhile, but thinking about might-have-beens and if-I-had-onlys is a waste of time and energy.

When you make a choice, it's almost always the best choice you could have made with the information you had available. There's no point or sense in trying to come up with alternate situations.

 

[ThePenguinKnight]

Don't go with your friend to his grandmothers and don't flip your shit at our aunt because you'll be booted out.

 

[Muspelheim]

"Hai. Salutations from the world of tomorrow. Now, lizten very carefully. I shall zay zis only once."

"Uhm... Kay?"

"A'ight, we don't have much time. First of all, sod society studies. Trust me, they're boring and you won't need 'em. Study aestetics instead, mate, at all costs. Ye hear? At all costs. It'll be better. An' don't let the math-problem get to ye, we're just not good at it. Learn what you have to, get yer grade and sod it. Trust me, I've never needed it since.
Also, the back of pa's head's got an appointment with Ms. Pavement Slab. It'll suck, but according to my calculations, in aestetics you'll be way better equipped to cope with it than I was. Or you was, whatever. Just keep sluggin' through, you'll make it."

"Right... Anything else?"

"Anythin' else? Nah, not really. Everything will work out fine, don't let anyone scare you. Carpe diem, mate. You'll probably only get one, anyway. An' don't play jaded, it doesn't suit you."

Hmm... The more I think about it, I've only got one single regret in life, and it's not even something very major.

 

[Agayek]

Now that I'm thinking about all this, I'm kinda surprised nobody has come out and said "Save the cheerleader, save the world."

 

[Saulkar]

Do not stay up late. It will ruin you.

 

[Shadow flame master]

Well I'm in high school now, so all of this is aimed towards my middle school self.

Stop getting mad at everyone so easily. The wasted energy is bad and could be put to better use.

Get to know people more. You'll have more friends in high School if you do.

Start working out NOW. You will lose a lot of weight when you get to high school, so take this time to develop your stamina.

 

[BrionJames]

hhmm....


Wait a year before enrolling in college, don't smoke so much, don't drink too much, and be confident, be brave, take a chance on some of those cute girls you meet in the next few years. Wait, wait NO! STOP! I'M NOT AN EVIL CLONE FROM THE FUTURE SENT BACK TO KILL YOU AND TAKE YOUR PLACE,AAAAAHHHHHGGGGHHHH...

 

[MrHide-Patten]

Become an account, there is no future in game development... well one where you get paid there isn't.

 

[J-meMalone]

"Give up on trying to be a medic, it isn't gonna happen. Stick with maths, you know you're good at it and it gets more interesting later, I promise.

Oh and try not to let life get you down so much. I won't sugar coat it or bullshit like some, it will take time. But you don't have a good attitude towards problems. You let them run your life, what you need to do is run them. Confidence is in your ability to deal with these problems. It'll come in time, just stand up and DO something, don't just mope. It'll just make thing worse. Everything turns out great in the end, and if you do that, it'll be even better!"

Wow that ended up longer than expected...

 

[Torrasque]

My teenage self? Hmmm...

Your mom is going to guilt trip you into going to University; she'll be all, "you need to go to University to get a higher education so you can get a job and be successful and not be like my loser of a sister, your aunt Lorette!". At the time, this will seem like a fantastic idea, especially considering how much you like Psychology and learning stuff. But tell mom that University doesn't work for you because you don't like school. Lets face it, you hate school right now because of how over-hyped it is. There are a LOT of successful people in the world that don't have a "proper" University education. It will take her a while to accept the fact that you don't want to go to University, and she'll act like you've turned out to be a failure, but she'll eventually get over it (it will take a really long time).

Oh, and don't worry about what you'll do with your life. I'd tell you that if I knew.

I had another thing planned out, but I wasn't a teenager when I went to Vegas. /shrug oh well.

 

[Product Placement]

NO, you cannot bring an almanac or something BTTF style or tell them to invest in something.

Who needs an almanac?

Present day me: "Take all the money you have, and invest it in a group of guys who are working on a search engine. I believe it's called 'BackRub' or something. Eventually they'll change the name into Google. Sounds dumb? Well, what do I know? I'm only from the future and all that."

 

[Donnie Restad]

I already am my teenage self, so I've just been reading a bunch of them for advice on my own.

It seems that a lot of them can narrow down to "Stay the fuck away from drugs."

And, "Keep a clear head and you'll make it out okay." Actually, that sorta falls into the drugs thing.

 

[kommando367]

To my 6th grade self
Don't quit band

to my 10 grade self
if you like a girl, don't become close friends with her before dating her.

 

[Slaanax]

Don't be a pussy. Basically all I would tell myself. This advice is still vital for me today.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

You don't know it yet, but you like fat girls. So you know that big chick with the locker next to yours who referred to you as her boyfriend and it made her friend act really awkward? She likes you and you should talk to her. She'll be covered in tattoos in a few years and she'll be gross by then.

Also, most people are as dumb or dumber than you, so you really shouldn't be afraid of them. You have a right to talk to them.

Eye contact is not a bad thing. Look at people. They probably won't hurt you like they used to.

Oh, and that girl you've had a crush on since 7th grade? She's just as awesome as you think she is and she's going to move away and get very happily married in a few years. If you ever felt anything about her, talk to her. All those guys you've seen her talking to were complete fucking assholes, so you don't have to be that great. Just smile and say anything, even if it's just "Hi, Stephanie." She likes Mario Kart.

 

[FilipJPhry]

YOU FUCKING SUCK, YOU IGNORANT PIECE OF SHIT!!! QUIT BITCHING AND GET SHIT DONE AND STOP BEING AN ARROGANT PRICK AND TREAT WOMEN LIKE RESPECT!!!

I was an atheist, loudmouth jerk who complained a lot and didn't respect the girls in high school. God, if I would travel through time, I'd come back and kick my ass.

 

[renegade7]

This is exactly what I would tell my 9th grade self....

"You, that beautiful girl you just fell head over heels in love with? Let it go. She isn't worth it, if you go to ask her out she will go on to ruin your teenage life."

 

[Marcus Kehoe]

Don't buy the box set of gundam seed dynasty , it sucked.

don't call your sister a whore as a joke, she didn't take it as a joke and is still a ***** about it.

 

[Carbonyl]

1. Freshmen year of college, there will be a question about pajamas, DO NOT SUGGEST FERRET PAJAMAS. I repeat, do not mention the ferret in the conversation, that day is already going to be unpleasant enough already.

2. Start saving quarters for laundry now, having to go on a quarter quest at 2:30 am sucks, the dryer takes more than 60 minutes, and the washer takes more than 45, you need to manage laundry time wisely.

3. Hug your brothers more. Spend as much time as possible with them, talk to them, realize how incredible they are, tell them that. I'll thank you. It's not going to change things, but it's important. This is the most important thing you can do.

4. You have synesthesia, go look it up, it's why 4 is blue and time has texture.

5. Start dating your notes, you'll be happy when it's finals time. And make a note when you're too tired to understand what's going on, it will explain the... things you write.

6. January 2012: BUY BURN CREAM. I will be so fucking grateful. Also more gauze.

 

[saoirse13]

Smack that girl and never let her walk all over you. Stand-up for yourself and be yourself. Trust me, make sure that from the start of 4th year that you study your ass off. You intellegent but one lazy *****. And believe me it's alot easier then than later.
Don't go out on hallow'een to that stupid disco, it's not worth it. Ad you will regret going for years.
Don't go out with the other guy, your not interested in him, you just think you are. And no it doesn't help you get over the first guy. You end up making some of the worst dumb decisions of your life and you break up a few years later still not over the first guy. Biggest piece of advise. when the first guy asks you to hang out again (because you never fall out) do. Just hang out be friends and don't over think anything. Everything works out.

And finally, this is the most important, DON'T send that message, I know how angry and confused you are, but it becomes the single most biggest regret of your life. Instead, walk straight across the road and hug your dad (yes your dad you meet him in a few years). No matter what happens after that moment, at least you won't have the regret of sending a stupid message in the heat of the moment and anger.

Oh and whatever you do, don't decide to drink your own body weight in jager and beer. Its not worth it and you wont recover for quite a few days. Plus you will end up hating the sit of alcohol.