Well, finally the time has rolled around to say goodbye, officially, to my childhood. It's true that in less than an hour I will be 18 years of age and though it doesn't really seem like a massive deal right now, looking at the bigger picture really panics me. "It seems to me that the years between 18 and 28 are the hardest physiologically. It's then you realize this is make or break, you no longer have the excuse of youth, and it is time to become an adult - but you are not ready" - Helen Mirren. I don't feel ready to even be labelled as an adult, let alone actually start the process of becoming one. But I think the hardest thing for me to really get my head around right now, is the sudden independence that will wash over me over the next few months. Being a youth means you have all this room to make mistakes, not that you can't when you are an adult, but the consequences are a lot more dire. But instead of focusing on what I am going to be venturing into, I thought I should take one last moment to say goodbye to my youth and appreciate everything I have learnt in the last 17 years...
1. It's okay not to be a perfect human being: everyone makes mistakes, it's literally a human trait.
2. People are always going to judge you no matter what you do or say: just be prepared and do what ever the hell makes you happy!
3. You don't have to stop watching Disney Channel at a certain age: I am 100% sure I will watch it tomorrow morning with a coffee in hand.
4. Friends come and go throughout your life: don't be sad, people will jump in your car and out of it along your journey, you will eventually find the one person who will stick and knows the right music to play on the Aux Cable.
5. Having great grades isn't everything: sure, they will help you out in the long-run, but if you try your best and still don't do as great as you had hoped, don't worry because there are a thousand different things you can do with your life, with or without 'good' grades.
6. Bullies are twats: literally just don't even get me started okay, they are not worth your time or tears
7. Physical Appearance isn't for other people: you look good because it makes you look good, you dress comfortably because you want to be comfortable, don't ever change yourself for others fabrications
8. Being in a relationship isn't important: we are so young, do we really want to be committing ourselves in a long-term relationship forever? Sure, falling in love is a huge life experience, but don't let it destroy you because love will always come and go.
9. Not to contradict myself, but first loves are amazing experiences: always, always remember your first love and be happy that it happened or is happening.
10. Finding an escapism: mine, of course, is writing; and you may find that this will drive your career when you do turn 18.
11. Embrace every single moment: Like I said, grades aren't everything, so if you are invited out - do it! Have fun, create memories to carry on into your adult years.
12. Financially: like having a job really sucks, but if you save from when you are 16 you'll find turning 18 a whole lot easier (a mistake I inevitably made)
13. Not everyone will like you: just embrace it, I have spent too long trying to make everyone I know happy and like me - it doesn't happen. Life sucks in this way.
14. DRINK COFFEE: very, very important. Take notes people, please.
15. Do whatever it takes to make you happy: please just do it, we don't have time to be sad!
16. Journey of Self-Discovery: learning who you are and who you want to be and amongst that, learning to love yourself
17. Enjoy your youth: you have the rest of your life to be an adult; and I wish this was something I had taken more seriously...
And there you have it, 17 things I've learnt from 1997 to 2015, though not amazing life lessons it's interesting to look back and see some of the most important things I have pulled out of my youth. Just remember that, prevailing in life can be difficult but it's also going to be one of the greatest ventures you ever find yourself enduring. And I can only hope that by the time I am 28 I can look back over the past 10 years and have had just as much of a fulfilling start to adulthood as I did to my youth. Good Luck to everyone prancing off into adulthood this year and next! "When life changes to be more difficult, you must change yourself to be even stronger"
Well, finally the time has rolled around to say goodbye, officially, to my childhood. It's true that in less than an hour I will be 18 years of age and though it doesn't really seem like a massive deal right now, looking at the bigger picture really panics me. "It seems to me that the years between 18 and 28 are the hardest physiologically. It's then you realize this is make or break, you no longer have the excuse of youth, and it is time to become an adult - but you are not ready" - Helen Mirren. I don't feel ready to even be labelled as an adult, let alone actually start the process of becoming one. But I think the hardest thing for me to really get my head around right now, is the sudden independence that will wash over me over the next few months. Being a youth means you have all this room to make mistakes, not that you can't when you are an adult, but the consequences are a lot more dire. But instead of focusing on what I am going to be venturing into, I thought I should take one last moment to say goodbye to my youth and appreciate everything I have learnt in the last 17 years...
1. It's okay not to be a perfect human being: everyone makes mistakes, it's literally a human trait.
2. People are always going to judge you no matter what you do or say: just be prepared and do what ever the hell makes you happy!
3. You don't have to stop watching Disney Channel at a certain age: I am 100% sure I will watch it tomorrow morning with a coffee in hand.
4. Friends come and go throughout your life: don't be sad, people will jump in your car and out of it along your journey, you will eventually find the one person who will stick and knows the right music to play on the Aux Cable.
5. Having great grades isn't everything: sure, they will help you out in the long-run, but if you try your best and still don't do as great as you had hoped, don't worry because there are a thousand different things you can do with your life, with or without 'good' grades.
6. Bullies are twats: literally just don't even get me started okay, they are not worth your time or tears
7. Physical Appearance isn't for other people: you look good because it makes you look good, you dress comfortably because you want to be comfortable, don't ever change yourself for others fabrications
8. Being in a relationship isn't important: we are so young, do we really want to be committing ourselves in a long-term relationship forever? Sure, falling in love is a huge life experience, but don't let it destroy you because love will always come and go.
9. Not to contradict myself, but first loves are amazing experiences: always, always remember your first love and be happy that it happened or is happening.
10. Finding an escapism: mine, of course, is writing; and you may find that this will drive your career when you do turn 18.
11. Embrace every single moment: Like I said, grades aren't everything, so if you are invited out - do it! Have fun, create memories to carry on into your adult years.
12. Financially: like having a job really sucks, but if you save from when you are 16 you'll find turning 18 a whole lot easier (a mistake I inevitably made)
13. Not everyone will like you: just embrace it, I have spent too long trying to make everyone I know happy and like me - it doesn't happen. Life sucks in this way.
14. DRINK COFFEE: very, very important. Take notes people, please.
15. Do whatever it takes to make you happy: please just do it, we don't have time to be sad!
16. Journey of Self-Discovery: learning who you are and who you want to be and amongst that, learning to love yourself
17. Enjoy your youth: you have the rest of your life to be an adult; and I wish this was something I had taken more seriously...
And there you have it, 17 things I've learnt from 1997 to 2015, though not amazing life lessons it's interesting to look back and see some of the most important things I have pulled out of my youth. Just remember that, prevailing in life can be difficult but it's also going to be one of the greatest ventures you ever find yourself enduring. And I can only hope that by the time I am 28 I can look back over the past 10 years and have had just as much of a fulfilling start to adulthood as I did to my youth. Good Luck to everyone prancing off into adulthood this year and next! "When life changes to be more difficult, you must change yourself to be even stronger"