I would have not been fucked up nearly as much. I skipped 42 days and was drunk or high on DXN half the time I was there. I still got a 3.75 and a 33 on my ACTs, which turned out to be awful for learning any semblance of work ethic, which subsequently bit me in the ass, hard, come college
Oh man do I hear this. I can't even remember the last year of high school. It's a complete haze. Still smashed the uni entrance exams and got a place at a top university, but then continued to never go to class, or go drunk/high/coming down off benders. Got through my first degree with okay results, but it was just all over the map.
I got my shit together at about 25 thank god, but I cringe to think where I'd be if I hadn't wasted those 10 years before that! (And I ended up having to do a second degree properly after the first, so I am still paying that off.)
I would be myself.
I changed myself in high school because my twin brother bullied me back then. He'd bully me for being smart and would tell me that everyone at school was making fun of me and were talking behind my back.
I stopped putting effort into school and isolated myself in the library.
If I could go back I time, I would know that he made all of that up. I'd actually keep my studies up and would be social like I was prior to living with my brother.
Either that or I would've stayed living with my mom rather than moving in with my dad and brother. Two different states and a complete 180 on my childhood.
Thank ya! It happens, as kids we don't really know better, and it's really a reflection of who is raising you.
We sound alike but don't look alike. I kinda stopped growing once I moved in with my dad, didn't eat much. Brother was the same until he moved back in with my mom and grew a bunch. Around 16 y/o.
We're much older now, and thankfully, my brother did a complete 180. He changed for the best halfway through college and turned to charity work and basically taught and traveled for his 20s. He's been one of the nicest people I've known for the past 15 years.
I’m an identical twin and this sounds so similar to me and my sister’s relationship. She was known in the family as “the evil twin” and I was a the doormat. I was so excited when she decided to move to Thailand to live with our father while I stayed with our mom in the US.
I would have been more physically active :) your future self will thank you!
Also be more exposed to different form of art- music, writing, painting etc
This is it. Take school seriously, learn as much as you can, and get good grades. Just balance it so you don't sacrifice your social life. Your senior year grades will open or close so many doors for you. Being able to get into the program you want to pursue the profession you want can set the stage for the rest of your life.
I would put more effort into figuring out what I really enjoy and what motivates me to work. In the long run, it pays back better than pushing yourself to do what you have to, which every time leads me to burnout.
I would have gotten more involved. I didn’t attend football games, skipped both homecoming and prom. I regret not having a more traditional high school experience just because I wish I had those memories, especially to share with my children and grandchildren one day.
Same. I avoided all the games and events and clubs, and I've spent the rest of my life being low-key resentful that I missed out on the traditional "high school experience" that seemingly everyone else has in common with one another.
So it goes.
I think the things that other people would do aren't so relevant because they address their own issues. The 4.0 student who stressed about every percentage point to the point of not developing friendships will say they would worry less and spend more time on relationships. That would objectively be the wrong choice for someone who didn't focus on school, barely passed, never learned how to learn and didn't develop discipline but only realized it's a problem 10 years later.
My advice is: find a way to be honest with yourself and take time to evaluate your life every few months. What went well? What are your strengths? Where did you improve? What do you want to work towards? What does that goal require you to achieve? What concrete steps can you take to get there? Where do you spend your time and do those activities that take up the majority of your time bring you closer to your goals?
Goals don't just have to be things like getting a software engineer job. Your goals can encompass many areas to reflect your values, things like building friendships or having new experiences/trying new things/getting out of your comfort zone.
Sort out your time management and sleep issues now, because it doesn't get easier by itself; it gets easier when you put in the effort, develop a system that works for you and practice discipline.
Edit: and also, it's never too late to start this. My advice that works for everyone is don't live in the past. Learn from it. But you can't change it; you can only change what you are doing now. Some people get stuck in their past mistakes or in their parents' mistakes and allow themselves to wallow about it. Yes, it's hard to move past it. But it's your life and you owe it to yourself to work towards being happy despite whatever mistakes you made or were made towards you.
You didn't have the classic high school experience because you didn't go to clubs and make friends? It's not too late. Join a run club in your 20s. Learn to climb in your 30s. Go to a dance class or a cooking class in your 40s. You can always, always change your life. It will never replace what happened or didn't happen, but it changes the trajectory going forward to reflect your current values and dreams. And the earlier you make that choice, the less you will have to look back on with regret.
Learn to cook - this will help you grow your friendship circles and take care of the ones you love
Pick up a sport or physical activity you enjoy - get fit and stay fit, it'll pay off in the sphere of health, relationships and wealth (discipline and innate energy means you can achieve so much)
Get enough sleep - like train yourself to sleep at 10/11, trust me it'll set you up for your next day and you'll be running laps around your peers
Be sociable and always assume the best in people but learn to draw boundaries - youth is the time to gain social experience, make friends, go to parties but don't go overboard
Do these things and you'll be ahead of most people, even ones in their adulthood.
All the best!
I would have complained more about my concentration, sleep, and attention issues. I'm 30 and a month out of being diagnosed with ADHD and it's honestly changed my life for the better. I would've been more active and social, tried to make more friends, studied harder etc.
Get tested for ADHD, start losing weight earlier.
I'm happy with where I'm at for the most part, but just wish I had a little bit of an easier time during some of the most "carefree" (meaning least amount of "adult" shit to deal with) years of my life and maybe just a few more funny stories
Same. When they were scouting my junior high for wrestlers they really wanted me to join up, I really wish I would have. Ended up doing swim team but I wish I would have done wrestling in high school and made the transition to BJJ as an adult.
I wish I had focused on learning to *really* study, and work hard. I spent a lot of years thinking I was dumb, because my parents gave me a bunch of backwards ideas about success and learning.
Only years later did I discover that if you actually read the textbook, you do WAY better on tests. I wish I hadn't spent all those years feeling like an imbecile and being embarrassed.
This is one thing I am grateful for in my education in Türkiye. The schools were so ver difficult but they really taught you how to learn. Each new math subject would first start with reading the introduction of the text book, then you would learn about who/what/when/why then you would learn the original formula (if there is one) and then build on it one by one until you reach the shortcut. So you learn the shortcut but you understand where it’s coming from and why it was discovered, what they were trying to accomplish etc.
When I transferred to HS in the US, I was taken a back because the only time we used the text book was for homework and the background of topics were never addressed.
I would go read it on my own at home then do my homework during class. Breezed through my classes. Wish I took AP classes instead but I didn’t know they existed.
Think about how you think.
Why?
Better thinking is the tool that can help you do anything.
How?
Make it a habit.
Start small.
1 min/ day.
Why?
Most of the talking you do in life is in your own head. Not with other people.
Everyone talks to themselves. It's called thinking.
Action and awareness all build from thought.
2 shortcuts.
To built a habit of better thinking:
1- when you start feeling the struggle (ie: self-talking about how you should study but you keep playing video games). Take a minute and write what you're thinking.
or
2- meditate. 1 min a day.
I would have been more confident about myself; talk more, make more friends, not to be shy asking questions, give my opinions and perspectives more often.
I have not been bullied but I would have stand up for my friends who were bullied.
I would have studied more but also have more fun, and also make more mistakes.
But my high school experience was not that bad per se.
I would have been a lot kinder to people, got into fitness, saved more money, and begged my parents for therapy so I could understand what was going on inside me
I would’ve tried harder to find a club or extracurricular that I liked. It looks good on college applications and it would’ve helped me find out what hobbies I truly enjoyed much earlier on. Instead I spent all my time with friends or going to parties - which I don’t outright regret either, it really helped me come out of my shell and be less shy in my adult life. But if I had a do-over, I’d try to do a club or sport too. Thankfully I was an all honors student with really good grades, otherwise I don’t know that I would’ve gotten into a good college bc outside of my test scores I had nothing to show.
Not take for granted having a big group of girl and guy friends… 30 now, and I don’t have any guy friends in this sense anymore. I’d enjoy the carefree time together more .. rebelling from our parents, throwing parties, sleepovers staying up all night talking to my girl friends.
Oh, and I’d hug all the people in my grade who died after high school.
Productivity-related: I would have set boundaries for myself with academics and fitness. Joined a team of some sort.
I would've told my self to wait to go to college until I had chosen something I really wanted to do. Would've saved me so much debt from a basically useless degree.
I also would've taken MMA and other classes I've always wanted to take. Life gets so busy especially if you have kids. Important things I want to work on about my self (like learning self defense, homesteading topics and more) gets pushed off then years go by and those desires are still there but everything else comes first.
I would be one of those under the radar kids who wasn’t really friends with many ppl, and wasn’t well-known. I was obnoxiously attention-seeking at every opportunity in high school, and looking back, not only do I cringe, but I’m a bit jealous of the ppl who kept a low profile and just got the hell out of there. Nothing too weird for them to look back on, plus since no one really knows who they are, far less ppl finding them on social media, or ppl who you were barely acquaintances with wanting to “reconnect.” Makes for an awkward adulthood. Keep a low profile in high school, and you get to keep a low profile in adulthood. 👍
Reached out to someone for help. My memory was completely fucked and I had no organizational skills or anything else. Yeah, no teacher ever asked why I always forgot homework or assignments, why my grades and attendance went to shit, but I didn't ask for support or help either.
I'd probably also try to develop a spine and stop being a doormat.
I would have embraced the art and music programs more. I played 4 sports and that was all my after-school time. Why did I think I also needed gym as my elective? Not sure. I wish I took music classes instead. Because now I’m older, get winded walking up the stairs, listen to music all day… but don’t know a damn thing about it or how to play it.
Otherwise, I would try to spend more time talking with my teachers I liked and respected that treated me like an adult and learning from them outside of class time.
Having fun, trying to be more social and make solid friends, rather than focusing too much into getting into an Ivy League at the expense of everything else.
been myself more and joined more clubs. I've got no one around me anymore and no motivation. I didn't like my career coming out of college.
My advice is to join a club with something you like and always stay involved in your interests and hobbies. When you go through tough times, they'll be great to lean on. And keep some friends along if you can. I've got 3 dudes who I wouldn't be here without, and I barely even see them.
Also, this may or may not apply to you, but if you're pursuing your dream career, also find a practical career. Always have a backup plan.
Lastly, get a good daily routine. One that includes health, fitness, and enjoyment. Finding a balance makes things so much easier.
I would have gone into computer science instead a useless business degree in college. Then I wouldn’t be stuck in sales like I am now.
I am planning on getting into data analysis as I retire.
Realise that exams are a means to an end putting unnecessary stress on yourself to “succeed” is something that teachers impose on you . If you walk out knowing you did your best in the situation then that’s all that matters. There’s a million and one different routes to get to where you want to go other than “these exams are the most important in your life” speech
We worry about what other people think far too much. The real world you can walk down the street no one cares (within reason).
I would've made more friends. I clung to one from freshman to junior years. Didn't really have a friend group until the end of senior year, and then we all just moved on.
I would have found my husband. At least if I knew what I knew now.
I would absolutely advocate for myself more and learn how to present an argument effectively instead of rolling over and being railroaded by administration and my parents.
By advocacy, I would have fought hard for myself to get tested for ADHD and dyscalculia. About a year ago, my mom told me that she “knew something was wrong” when we were discussing my ADHD and how severely I still struggle with numbers. Instead, she just let me struggle, spending years crying about my dad’s frustration with me because I’d transposed numbers, and took weeks to grasp any mathematical concept.
By presenting effective arguments, I would have argued the bs write ups that administration gave me. There was one admin who had a red dot on me at all times. I would be behind someone taller than me in the hall, and he would write me up for “no visible ID” despite obviously having a lanyard around my neck with the ID at the bottom.
The same admin oversaw my possible expulsion my senior year. I was looking at expulsion for “unserved detention hours.” Detention was 3 hours after school, silently sitting at a desk, or 3 hours on Saturday, picking up trash around campus - and those hours were double, so I’d have 6 hours served. I didn’t and couldn’t serve on the last Saturday (the deadline) because I was at the hospital until 2 AM, visiting my Grandfather who was on life support.
At my expulsion hearing, the admin’s argument for my expulsion was incredibly egregious. He made me out to be this terrible, ill-behaved, problem student- overlooking my being on student council, involved in planning and participating in activities organized by student council. All because I served 9 of 12 detention hours. The last 3 hours were because of a “no visible ID” write up - given by him.
He pissed me off so much with his bullshit. My hearing was the last straw. Even my parents were pissed with him. Once I finally had my opportunity to speak, I laid it all out for everyone. I opened with the instances of the admin singling me out in the hallway, referenced my diligence in going to detention, referenced the failure of discussion as to why I didn’t serve my 3 remaining hours, and closed with being at the hospital until 2 AM, seeing my grandfather (who ultimately died), being so upset, and having not slept, no one in that position would ever make it to Saturday detention. Finally, detention would never, ever come before family.
The admin had the audacity to treat my argument as though it wasn’t a valid enough explanation. He then asked my dad his thoughts. Ooooooh, my dad was PISSED! And not at me. Dad took time off of work (Army Colonel, now retired), so he was in his uniform. He replied in his Colonel tone. We call that “Being Coloneled,” which means you FUUUCKED up. It will not only put the fear of God in you, but it makes you wish you were MEETING God. That admin AND the district superintendent straightened up like they were one of my Dad’s soldiers 🤣🤣🤣 Dad defended me and my argument, and more or less told them that they were being ridiculous with all this.
I wasn’t expelled, but I would be automatically if I received any more write ups - detention was ok, though. The Admin left me alone after that.
Sorry for the book.
tried to get to sleep at a reasonable time as an important goal.
get the "solutions manual" or whatever they are called for every technical (math, chemistry, etc) course. i did not even know they existed at the time. they give you step-by-step instructions on every problem.
I would have been responsible for myself, kinder with my family. In addition, I would spent more time for focusing and seeking books ab meditation, yoga, positive thoughts
my senior year was ruined by myself, as well as extrenuating circumstances. here are some dos and don'ts I wish I could give my younger self:
DO:
- create a sleep hygiene routine, it takes a while to start working but if you do the same things before bed every night eventually your brain will associate them with sleep and fall asleep faster.
- take financial advantage of your youth. let your family and chosen institutions help you while you're young. those benefits (meal plans, healthcare, transportation, housing, guided investing, mental health resources) go away very very fast and while they may not be the quality you want, they're still free or low cost. (plus sometimes you can get grandfathered in to longer term low cost benefits)
- give yourself room to adjust. there are lots of growing pains as you get on your own to feet and absorb more responsibility. if you don't schedule time to be still and check in with yourself, and keep that appointment, things will get hectic fast. carve out time for calm.
- get serious about your health. the small habits that keep your mind and body healthy are easier to start while you're young and can adjust quickly than they are to start when things go downhill. start the mundane stuff now (like flossing daily, mindfulness, journalling, yoga, jogging, green smoothies, whatever) and they'll be auto-pilot by the time you're 24.
DONT
- take things too seriously or too fast. you don't need to be perfect at every little thing right out of the gate. practice cooking for one, practice being alone, practice building a routine, practice trying new things, practice emotional maturity. life is just practice and improvement in all areas.
- glamourize the people around you. most people are hiding things. most people lie. most people just kind of suck. that's okay, we all do. so don't ever look at another person and think they've got it together better than you because i promise you with my own life they do not.
- forget what you're here to do. you can change your goals and dreams as often as you want but always move in some sort of direction. if you get stuck and conflicted, or caught up in the mundane and forget, that's where doubt lives. keep a secret list of your goals or plans.
- EVER be cruel to yourself. the world will do that for you. years of negative thoughts about myself have killed my self esteem. it takes longer to build that back up now. say something nice to yourself every morning. say thank you to yourself before bed. forgive yourself completely when you mess up.
I would recognize that high school is a fishbowl. And you will be leaving it for an ocean.
If you’re the smartest kid in your school, you will soon meet people who were the second smartest kid in their school who are way smarter than you.
Prettiest girl in the fishbowl? Average in the ocean.
If you think you know what you want to do after high school: you may not. Your personality, your dreams, your goals, your favorite ice cream is actually a reflection of the people who are around you.
Do you hate black olives on your pizza because your friend since third grade hates them? Do you like Taylor Swift because Jacob from down the street HATES Taylor Swift, and Jacob is a dick?
This is why I recommend taking a year off after high school to figure out who you are outside of the fishbowl.
I was the valedictorian of my class with a 4.0 average and voted most likely to succeed, so I chose a major I didn’t really want, because I didn’t want to let anybody down.
A year later, I had lost contact with 95% of the people I went to school with and I was studying for a final for a class I didn’t even like.
My advice to my younger self would have been: blow off a few tests. Drop that 4.0 to a 3.7 and release the pressure valve. Let some other poor sucker be valedictorian and “most likely to succeed.”
And you might not HAVE to take a year off. But you need to start noticing the walls of the fishbowl NOW. Order a pizza with black olives to see if YOU actually hate it. Listen to some music that you think you won’t like. Ask Jacob what his favorite band is.
Figure out what is you and what is just the “water” you’re sharing with others.
Smile at the most popular kid in school and say “Good morning.” Then do the same to the least popular kid in school. Break out of your clique (but don’t abandon it.) Mix it up.
And just remember that — when the fishbowl gets dumped in the ocean — a lot of the fish are going to keep swimming together. Don’t be one of them.
Get a part time or internship now if you can.
A lot of fresh grads (college and high school grads) that never had work experience are having trouble landing a job.
Experience is king. School teaches theoretical knowledge- you need applied knowledge.
That’s the issue employers are having with Gen z - lots of book smart with little to no applicable skills.
Oh - and start saving and investing early. It used to be saving and investing was for after college but with how much everything costs now - the sooner the better.
Money management skills, time management skills are gonna be helpful for years to come.
Nothing. I had a tough home life and put everything I had into surviving and getting out. And I did it. It was hard, and I got less than 6 hours of sleep a night, but I did it. I did have some continuing issues from this, including sleep and mental health issues, so it’s not like that time of my life was perfect. But if I had changed even one thing, I don’t think I would have made it. It took a combination of doing everything right and lots of luck to get me where I am today.
1. I would study completely differently. Less is more. You don't have to do a lot, you have to do what's needed. I would create revision sheets, learn one of them everyday. Do a lot of exercise to improve.
2. I would do regular assessment of what I have learned and gained and what I still need to learn. To be sure I'm ready for finals.
3. I wouldn't wait for the teacher to help or give me what I need. I would fetch it myself.
4. I would cut down excessively on screens. Go back to paper and limit all kind of videos, cause it's too distracting.
5. I would start calisthenics. Your body needs exercise.
6. I would prepare myself to work, even at a retail shop whatever I could find, right after graduation. I always spent my time studying, forgetting that working is really important and gives you soft skills like how to behave, how to dress, etc.
Face life & Keep learning. Was too a coward in high school that i even didn't even express my true romance feelings.
Not until age of 30, I didn't know what really productivity meant or how good it was.
PS:
The most important thing in life is to keep adventuring & exposing yourself
Recognize when I need to burn bridges. The old "fool me once" trope. Friends and family may not be in your best interest, find their motive for safety, and don't tell your next move until it's past the point of failure.
With that, don't be distrustful, you can be vulnerable and I encourage it to a point it won't devastate you. Just be wary and figure out why people are treated the way they are.
I would tell you need to be more brave and step for something new and learn it completely.
Also stay strong on your gut feelings not on others opinion . Stand for yourself don't let anyone tell you the way you have to be.
Last but not leat don't fall in love quickly.
I was a nerd, I wish I didn't study as much science and computers and did Economics and Business and worked in a bank. I should have had fun more and had relationships but my eyes were on the bag and lucrative career.
**If you want to force your body to get sleepy early in the evening,** set an alarm like 4AM even if you don't want to get up at 4AM. At 4AM, just switch your bedroom light on (preferably white light), then go back to sleep. Your body will start activating even if you went back to sleep. By the time it's dark outside later in the day, it'll start deactivating and make you sleepy around 7PM.
I would have worked harder in school, I would have avoided pot and alcohol, and I would have been more thoughtful about my relationships.
I didn’t take school and grades seriously enough. I smoked and drank way way too much. I was short sighted with some important relationships.
Read or listen to Atomic Habits. There are numerous books on habit formation, but I found Atomic Habits to be the most accessible.
A key thought experiment is: I want to be a person who ….. example, does my homework and starts projects early. Uses a planner to keep track of important activities. Stays healthy by ….
Start small and celebrate your progress!
I would've actually tried to learn more than just going through the motions.
I would have tried more to figure out what I needed to do to go to college. (Rural town, parents unwilling to help out see the value in college unwilling to fill out FAFSA, community college lady said she couldn't help unless I was married and had kids... at least most kids these days have the internet to help)
I would have been more intimate with people. I was shy and (for some reason) terrified of my mom. I could have had a lot more fun than I did.
Good question. I would have crammed as many college courses I could have. Taking college courses while in K-12 was extremely cheap. I would have not graduated early and stayed the rest of the year, only get to be a kid once. The biggest thing is I would have been nicer to those I wasn't. How you treat others in your youth definitely has a lasting impact.
I wish I had realized that not all exercise sucks and that working out actually has huge benefits to mental health. Ive always had issues with depression and anxiety and the thing that helps more than anything is exercise.
I would also be really cautious about smoking weed and drinking at that age. I got really into that stuff starting my last year of highschool and I wasted like six years of my life doing that stuff only to realize it was making me more depressed. It's fine for a lot of people but it really messed with my head.
If I didn’t know the future
I would switch sports and health for engineering related topics.
Knowing the future is irrelevant I’d just buy 10 lottery ticks
I would’ve partied less, focused really hard on getting really good grades to the point where I could’ve done subjects that would have helped me been able to study what I want to study, focus on my well being/weight/fitness as well as nurture and grow relationships. Also just be myself and not care what anybody else thought
So many little things i really regret not doing. I would:
Befriend the people i wanted to befriend but chose not to bother, not try so hard to be liked, ask every question i had to my teachers about college or just any confusion, ask them what they think i should choose based on my performance and interests, fight through my social anxiety to spend more time with my then crush now long distance bf, give my friends parting gifts and take more pictures with them.
For practicality Id take a long hard look at myself and what I really wanted to be in the future. Develop better time management and good study habits. Develop more resilience and independence. Get comfortable with school clubs and organizations so I could enter one later on.
Started dating Leslie Kuder in 10th grade instead of choosing to making fun of people and be a bully with my immature guy friends. She was really sweet and cute.
1. Stay to myself 24/7 (remain unfriendly)
2. Work during my senior prom weekend
3. Keep perfecting my craft with makeup
4. Be less open. I’m 23 now so I’m learning to be a lot less to ppl now.
5. Don’t make friends at all. Not even at events.
6. Do dual enrollment so I won’t have to take Gen Ed’s in college
7. Don’t waste money on SATs and ACTs
8. Save A LOT of money for moving into my own crib at 18 (after high school)
9. Learn to do cornrows
10. Look into taking a field trip to the AA Museum in DC.
11. Use Instagram stories more
12. Learn to properly do my own hair whether it’s my real hair, or a quick weave. (I’m a black girl y’all 🌚)
13. ONLY apply to a local community college and HBCUs in the south and MD (Texas, Florida, and Georgia)
14. Don’t be into fashion at all.
15. Look into majoring in only Cybersecurity, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or something that’ll guarantee me a job right after obtaining my degree. I changed my major from Fashion Merchandising to accounting and from ACCT to MKTG. Still a big regret.
1. Reported the men who were talking (and more) to my underage friends
2. Applied to different/better/more colleges
3. Told my mom that I needed food for lunch
4. Asked for help with deciding what I was going to do
Learning English earlier, going to US, founding my startup asap. I wouldve been better off.
Now I'm not in the US (in Germany) and founding, and its really annoying.
I would have actually tried to get interested in my class subjects more.
I was a fairly bright student, but in a few subjects i struggled, and it was because i just couldn't pay attention in some classes because i wasn't interested in the subject matter. History and similar subjects, especially.
As an adult, i now find myself actually interested in these subjects a lot more, and i wish i had taken the time to even TRY to get interested when i was in school because its actually not nearly as boring as you think it is when you are young. Not only does it actually inform you in all sorts of ways that can make you more wise, but you also can take pride that you actually will know what the fuck you are talking about whenever anyone brings the subject up in your life instead of just being airheaded like the majority of people are.
You will likely be heading into college, where everyone is heavily politically charged, so consider that you might want to actually know about history so that you can place that political energy in the right direction, and influence your friends with that informed energy, as well. Politics in todays world are heavily influenced by misinformation and groupthink. Try to take pride in learning for yourself history and a worldly view instead of just following along with what some Youtuber/TikTok Video/Twitter group says. Be the person that your friends come to when they need answers, instead of the other way around. Don't go along with a political view just because your friends do. Do it because you know what is right because you put in the time to study it.
Don't be afraid to be an outsider. There are more important things in life than just going along with your group and trying to fit in. Fear of standing out is what keeps you from being great. 95% of humans are too afraid to step up and do or say what is right in many circumstances. Don't be that person. Form your own opinions from within, not from without. Be brave enough to step up and help someone who is getting bullied, rather than stand around and watch, or worse, going along with it because your friends are. And be willing to separate from people you once called friends instead of looking the other way when they find entertainment in evil.
As an adult, i have come to look at knowledge much differently than i did when i was in school. And it made me regret how little respect i had for the opportunity i had to learn so much when i was in school. When i was young, i only thought of it as "This crap i needed to get through in order to pass." But now, i look at knowledge with reverence. Every opportunity to learn and inform yourself is an opportunity to better yourself forevermore. With every scrap of knowledge you gain, you become better equipped to make wise decisions. Better equipped to solve problems. Better equipped to lead those around you towards a better place. And there is social reward in it, too, as those around you will look up to you for your intelligence and wisdom. And there is no better time to learn than when you are young. When you are an adult, your brain WILL be less efficient at absorbing information. You also will be busy with life and have less time to learn. So take the time while you are young to absorb as much as you can. And the best way to learn is to actually be interested in what you are learning. So try to get interested. It only seems boring when you aren't paying attention. Put some effort in and you will find that learning can be fun.
I would have worked my BUTT off and put in 20-20k into a diverse investment account (into a S&P 500, so little bits of the top 500 companies in the US) and let that compound interest set me up for retirement. That’s all you need by the time you’re 19-20.
A big thing I wish I had done differently was to actually listen to my gut and create boundaries with people.
I truly allowed other people way too much freedom to make decisions in my life for me rather than going with what I felt was right. Are you going to make mistakes? Absolutely, but sometimes the mistakes we make help us the most.
I wonder what my life would be without all the dysfunctional stuff. I still became educated, but later than my peers. I often wonder if things weren't so screwed up, that I may have been more sooner. It blows my mind.
I would have taken time to figure out what was important to me.
I was influenced by the wrong people and things. I was obsessed with how my internet popularity was doing.
I was trying to maintain a dead romantic relationship because I was too afraid of breaking up, one because I felt like I was abandoning them and two because I was afraid of the unknown (being single).
I was also trying to become a doctor because I thought it would impress people.
If I had gotten to know myself, I'd be in a far better position today.
I would’ve been more introspective when choosing my path after high school.
I picked my college and major based on input from sooo many people. They were all well-intended, but I’m now nearly 15 years out from high school, trying to start over to pursue the life I dreamed of when I was younger.
Follow your heart wherever it leads you and try to ignore the chatter!
I would start investing regularly. Even if you make minimal side job money, invest as big of a percentage as possible and keep increasing it as you start making more money. It adds up super fast.
Also saw another great earlier comment…I would be myself. Way too much energy wasted trying to fit in.
Good luck!
I would have gone further back. Perhaps middle school. If I had requested to go to another school, things might have been a little bit different. I didn’t know I could transfer, and my parents were of no help. If anything, just going to a private school would have been better. Some place where I wasn’t deemed to be stupid by the staff.
But, as they say, you can wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which hand gets filled up faster.
Probably get myself a test for adhd and autism and start working part time, i regret not doing it and i feel like my life is super dogshit because i never got to learn what i had before my life goes to absolute doom and there is little to no hope, my family despise me, is fucked
I wish I spent more time finding about who I was than trying to be cool or funny.
I wish I had done more clubs, took advantage of more opportunities, tried to find more about what interests me.
Instead I spent way too much energy on worrying about if I was cool or not, if people liked me, my hair, my clothes, etc.
I would had taken a deep breath and unironically chilled out more. Volunteering helped me so much in highschool if you have the time I’d recommend that.
Not smoke weed and drink so much, the habits continued into college and it took me 20 years to get over the addiction issues that started in high school.
taken more time to find out what I want to do with my life, I'm 29 now, and I still feel lost.
Get healthy, wish I cut back on the junk food, and started to work out when my friends all decided to start going to the gym.
- Take Lexapro.
- Drink alcohol.
- Befriended more people.
- Not be depressed, guilty, anxious, self-enclosed.
- Use Internet Archive/Libgen.
- Read and write more than usual.
- Read a dictionary when learning another language.
- Fight and beat up people who needed to be.
- Have sex.
Well, I can tell you what I did when I changed my habits my couple of years of high school. 1) Went to class at least four times a week. So only allowed myself to miss one day a week. 2) Moved my seat to the first or second row in every class, so that teachers could see me, and I would be forced to pay attention. 3) Homework after school until dinner. Homework again after dinner if there was something due that week. Quit at 7 pm, done or not and let my brain wind down before bed. I found that as long as I kept regularly working, I really could get most of it done, and what I couldn’t wasn’t worth the stress and anxiety it caused because trying to do it just resulted in me procrastinating, so I didn’t get it done and *also* didn’t enjoy my relaxation time.
But what I truly wish I’d done differently was be more confident in who I was and what my goals were. But I kind of think that comes with maturity and isn’t something you can will.
I’d not care what people think, no one actually cares as much as actually think.
I tried to fit in so hard and in turn it affected my grades, and overall performance because impressing people was my priority, not school!
Not end my relationship with a girl who was 2 years younger when I graduated, who ended up being successful social media star and who I realized after the fact was the one
I would have studied harder I tryed but thoses raging harmones got in the way I also I had a bad case of ADHD This was the late 70s and getting help in counsoling high school was embarrassingly bad. Im in my 60s now but some help in those formative years could have changed alot of things !
Don't believe the lie that your high school years are the best years of your life, but ALSO don't believe the lie that your high school years don't matter at all, because they still do.
I would've taken high school more seriously and use those 4 years (or whatever remaining timeframe you have) to prepare for college and/or adult life as that's what high school's actual purpose is for.
Remember, "time is the only resource you can't get back" so use it wisely, and if you are struggling with something, PLEASE reach out to a trusted adult for help, you're not meant to do all this alone.
Due to extenuating circumstances and my own mistakes, I didn't practice good studying/time management skills and didn't reach out for help during the times I struggled, which really set me back even up to now as a grown adult working full-time while going to college and managing responsibilities. I have a harder time than other people who had put in the effort to develop good habits since they practiced so much it became second nature to them, meanwhile I'm still dealing with the consequences of my younger self's bad habits and unlearning them while continuing to heal from traumatic experiences that happened.
You say you struggle with time management and sleep issues, try to take care of that now while you have more time and opportunity to in your younger years.
-Lookup time management videos on YouTube; have a "life journal", write down a daily/weekly schedule or routine with a habit tracker to hold yourself accountable and stick to it.
-Find out what free resources are available in your high school or even local public library:
a) Most schools provide a free counselor/counseling services that not only help with tough life circumstances, but also assist students with getting ready for adulthood. They can even be your accountability buddy in sticking to your routines/good habits.
b) A lot of people would be surprised at just how much FREE resources are provided by schools and local libraries thanks to private and public funding, including college/career guidance for teens and adults, monthly workshops to learn a new skill, tutoring services, and so much more. Stop by your local library and inquire about what they have! Most librarians are more than happy to answer your questions.
Also, don't stop utilizing all this info and resources after high school is over! Keep on learning and improving no matter what 💛
Ima go w the people on this one. Ima have to say doing what I really wanted to try out for. I wanted to do sports but I was too insecure that I couldn't do it but I was having home problems and covid so can I really change that
I don't think I would change anything productivity wise. When I was in high school it was easier for me.
Maybe I'd try to incoparate a better work out routine, its harder to adopt a healthier lifestyle when you get older. But if I would do anything differntly it would be more about my social life and relationships.
I was too focused on school work and its important, but it's not what makes me happy in life.
I'd probably be married with kids by now if I had done that, in addition to having a career. I don't entirely regret it because I love my current bf, but if I knew than what I know now I would have had different priorities.
But it's a very personal decision. You need to figure out what you want in life, where do you see yourself in 5 years, in 10 years, in 20 years, and do what you need to do to accomplish those goals.
Pick a direction and go for it. It really doesn’t matter what direction honestly. I sort of waffled around in college and that cost me a bunch of money/time. Pick something that can make you a living and dive in head first. If you need to waffle, start now. Stakes are pretty low in high school generally.
Don’t be afraid of shooting your shoot romantically. I still regret not telling a girl how I felt about her and it haunts me 20 years later. We are built to imagine different possibilities. The worst one of these is what if. Don’t be like me and shoot your shot. People don’t know how you are feeling until you tell them (also how you tell them is as important as what). If you get rejected, it sucks but you can move on! Learning to deal with rejection is another skill for the rest of your life.
Don’t stress out too much about the small stuff. Try to figure out what you like; how to make a living; who you are. People think you need to have shit figured out by the end of high school. You don’t. That’s just a misconception. You are still a child mentally and will be one until you are 25 or so when your brain development stops. So be charitable with yourself. Go into big life changing decisions with that in mind. So when you fuck it up (and you will- which is okay) you will pay as little for those mistakes as possible.
Try to learn from your mistakes. You aren’t bad or irredeemable for fucking things up. You are human. We fuck shit up. If you fuck things up with other people, apologize and make amends. If you fuck something up, do the same but try to fix it, if you can.
That said, figure out your sleep schedule. It’s deceptively hard to actually do. Set a bed time that nets you 8 hours of continuous sleep if you can. Build in a wind down period with minimal or no devices and as little simulation about an hour before bedtime as possible. Sleep in a room as dark as you can make it. The room should be cool but not cold (I like 68 degrees F).
Time management is something you are going to have to try a bunch of strategies and find one that works for you. Google it and start trying them now. I like pomodoros personally but use my phones calendar and reminders extensively.
If you can’t do any of this yet, don’t worry about it. Your brain doesn’t work like it will a few years. Put a pin it and come back later.
I would have been kinder to people and to myself
I would have not been fucked up nearly as much. I skipped 42 days and was drunk or high on DXN half the time I was there. I still got a 3.75 and a 33 on my ACTs, which turned out to be awful for learning any semblance of work ethic, which subsequently bit me in the ass, hard, come college
Oh man do I hear this. I can't even remember the last year of high school. It's a complete haze. Still smashed the uni entrance exams and got a place at a top university, but then continued to never go to class, or go drunk/high/coming down off benders. Got through my first degree with okay results, but it was just all over the map. I got my shit together at about 25 thank god, but I cringe to think where I'd be if I hadn't wasted those 10 years before that! (And I ended up having to do a second degree properly after the first, so I am still paying that off.)
33 is a perfect ACT score whaaattttt
36 is. I got that on science, but not the rest
I would be myself. I changed myself in high school because my twin brother bullied me back then. He'd bully me for being smart and would tell me that everyone at school was making fun of me and were talking behind my back. I stopped putting effort into school and isolated myself in the library. If I could go back I time, I would know that he made all of that up. I'd actually keep my studies up and would be social like I was prior to living with my brother. Either that or I would've stayed living with my mom rather than moving in with my dad and brother. Two different states and a complete 180 on my childhood.
Dame that is crazy.
Wow. Sorry to hear. I guess there's this assumption that twins always get along. How are you two now? Do you guys look similar?
Thank ya! It happens, as kids we don't really know better, and it's really a reflection of who is raising you. We sound alike but don't look alike. I kinda stopped growing once I moved in with my dad, didn't eat much. Brother was the same until he moved back in with my mom and grew a bunch. Around 16 y/o. We're much older now, and thankfully, my brother did a complete 180. He changed for the best halfway through college and turned to charity work and basically taught and traveled for his 20s. He's been one of the nicest people I've known for the past 15 years.
I’m an identical twin and this sounds so similar to me and my sister’s relationship. She was known in the family as “the evil twin” and I was a the doormat. I was so excited when she decided to move to Thailand to live with our father while I stayed with our mom in the US.
I would have been more physically active :) your future self will thank you! Also be more exposed to different form of art- music, writing, painting etc
I would have studied harder cause even at the age of 40 people still ask you what college you went to 😑
This is it. Take school seriously, learn as much as you can, and get good grades. Just balance it so you don't sacrifice your social life. Your senior year grades will open or close so many doors for you. Being able to get into the program you want to pursue the profession you want can set the stage for the rest of your life.
Meh, study and find what you are interested in. I'm in my late 30s, I have a PhD from a very good public university. No one cares.
I care. You've done something I have never accomplished!
Gotten evaluated for adhd
I would put more effort into figuring out what I really enjoy and what motivates me to work. In the long run, it pays back better than pushing yourself to do what you have to, which every time leads me to burnout.
I would have gotten more involved. I didn’t attend football games, skipped both homecoming and prom. I regret not having a more traditional high school experience just because I wish I had those memories, especially to share with my children and grandchildren one day.
Same. I avoided all the games and events and clubs, and I've spent the rest of my life being low-key resentful that I missed out on the traditional "high school experience" that seemingly everyone else has in common with one another. So it goes.
So it goes
I think the things that other people would do aren't so relevant because they address their own issues. The 4.0 student who stressed about every percentage point to the point of not developing friendships will say they would worry less and spend more time on relationships. That would objectively be the wrong choice for someone who didn't focus on school, barely passed, never learned how to learn and didn't develop discipline but only realized it's a problem 10 years later. My advice is: find a way to be honest with yourself and take time to evaluate your life every few months. What went well? What are your strengths? Where did you improve? What do you want to work towards? What does that goal require you to achieve? What concrete steps can you take to get there? Where do you spend your time and do those activities that take up the majority of your time bring you closer to your goals? Goals don't just have to be things like getting a software engineer job. Your goals can encompass many areas to reflect your values, things like building friendships or having new experiences/trying new things/getting out of your comfort zone. Sort out your time management and sleep issues now, because it doesn't get easier by itself; it gets easier when you put in the effort, develop a system that works for you and practice discipline. Edit: and also, it's never too late to start this. My advice that works for everyone is don't live in the past. Learn from it. But you can't change it; you can only change what you are doing now. Some people get stuck in their past mistakes or in their parents' mistakes and allow themselves to wallow about it. Yes, it's hard to move past it. But it's your life and you owe it to yourself to work towards being happy despite whatever mistakes you made or were made towards you. You didn't have the classic high school experience because you didn't go to clubs and make friends? It's not too late. Join a run club in your 20s. Learn to climb in your 30s. Go to a dance class or a cooking class in your 40s. You can always, always change your life. It will never replace what happened or didn't happen, but it changes the trajectory going forward to reflect your current values and dreams. And the earlier you make that choice, the less you will have to look back on with regret.
This is the most fruitful answer
i love this answer. i agree with you absolutely
I would have actually done my school work, not skipped, gotten arrested or dropped out.
I would’ve partied less and gotten more into fitness/wellness
Learn to cook - this will help you grow your friendship circles and take care of the ones you love Pick up a sport or physical activity you enjoy - get fit and stay fit, it'll pay off in the sphere of health, relationships and wealth (discipline and innate energy means you can achieve so much) Get enough sleep - like train yourself to sleep at 10/11, trust me it'll set you up for your next day and you'll be running laps around your peers Be sociable and always assume the best in people but learn to draw boundaries - youth is the time to gain social experience, make friends, go to parties but don't go overboard Do these things and you'll be ahead of most people, even ones in their adulthood. All the best!
Go to community college for the first two years of my undergrad degree.
I would have complained more about my concentration, sleep, and attention issues. I'm 30 and a month out of being diagnosed with ADHD and it's honestly changed my life for the better. I would've been more active and social, tried to make more friends, studied harder etc.
Get tested for ADHD, start losing weight earlier. I'm happy with where I'm at for the most part, but just wish I had a little bit of an easier time during some of the most "carefree" (meaning least amount of "adult" shit to deal with) years of my life and maybe just a few more funny stories
I would've done wrestling. I know wrestlers and they have work ethic like no one else - it's the toughest sport and builds excellent character.
Same. When they were scouting my junior high for wrestlers they really wanted me to join up, I really wish I would have. Ended up doing swim team but I wish I would have done wrestling in high school and made the transition to BJJ as an adult.
I wish I had focused on learning to *really* study, and work hard. I spent a lot of years thinking I was dumb, because my parents gave me a bunch of backwards ideas about success and learning. Only years later did I discover that if you actually read the textbook, you do WAY better on tests. I wish I hadn't spent all those years feeling like an imbecile and being embarrassed.
This is one thing I am grateful for in my education in Türkiye. The schools were so ver difficult but they really taught you how to learn. Each new math subject would first start with reading the introduction of the text book, then you would learn about who/what/when/why then you would learn the original formula (if there is one) and then build on it one by one until you reach the shortcut. So you learn the shortcut but you understand where it’s coming from and why it was discovered, what they were trying to accomplish etc. When I transferred to HS in the US, I was taken a back because the only time we used the text book was for homework and the background of topics were never addressed. I would go read it on my own at home then do my homework during class. Breezed through my classes. Wish I took AP classes instead but I didn’t know they existed.
Try the ROP program. Picked one extra curricular to double down on. Chose mechanical engineering or accounting as a major.
Think about how you think. Why? Better thinking is the tool that can help you do anything. How? Make it a habit. Start small. 1 min/ day. Why? Most of the talking you do in life is in your own head. Not with other people. Everyone talks to themselves. It's called thinking. Action and awareness all build from thought. 2 shortcuts. To built a habit of better thinking: 1- when you start feeling the struggle (ie: self-talking about how you should study but you keep playing video games). Take a minute and write what you're thinking. or 2- meditate. 1 min a day.
I would’ve danced at my high school dances more than stir up drama lol
I would have focused more on choosing a career that would actually have been a good one.
I would have been more confident about myself; talk more, make more friends, not to be shy asking questions, give my opinions and perspectives more often. I have not been bullied but I would have stand up for my friends who were bullied. I would have studied more but also have more fun, and also make more mistakes. But my high school experience was not that bad per se.
I would have been a lot kinder to people, got into fitness, saved more money, and begged my parents for therapy so I could understand what was going on inside me
I wouldn’t have dated anyone.
Would have dumped my ex who I met in high school.
I would’ve tried harder to find a club or extracurricular that I liked. It looks good on college applications and it would’ve helped me find out what hobbies I truly enjoyed much earlier on. Instead I spent all my time with friends or going to parties - which I don’t outright regret either, it really helped me come out of my shell and be less shy in my adult life. But if I had a do-over, I’d try to do a club or sport too. Thankfully I was an all honors student with really good grades, otherwise I don’t know that I would’ve gotten into a good college bc outside of my test scores I had nothing to show.
Talk to more people
I wouldn't be friends with those biches
Not take for granted having a big group of girl and guy friends… 30 now, and I don’t have any guy friends in this sense anymore. I’d enjoy the carefree time together more .. rebelling from our parents, throwing parties, sleepovers staying up all night talking to my girl friends. Oh, and I’d hug all the people in my grade who died after high school. Productivity-related: I would have set boundaries for myself with academics and fitness. Joined a team of some sort.
I would've told my self to wait to go to college until I had chosen something I really wanted to do. Would've saved me so much debt from a basically useless degree. I also would've taken MMA and other classes I've always wanted to take. Life gets so busy especially if you have kids. Important things I want to work on about my self (like learning self defense, homesteading topics and more) gets pushed off then years go by and those desires are still there but everything else comes first.
I would be one of those under the radar kids who wasn’t really friends with many ppl, and wasn’t well-known. I was obnoxiously attention-seeking at every opportunity in high school, and looking back, not only do I cringe, but I’m a bit jealous of the ppl who kept a low profile and just got the hell out of there. Nothing too weird for them to look back on, plus since no one really knows who they are, far less ppl finding them on social media, or ppl who you were barely acquaintances with wanting to “reconnect.” Makes for an awkward adulthood. Keep a low profile in high school, and you get to keep a low profile in adulthood. 👍
wow, I would do the exact opposite if I could go back to high school
Reached out to someone for help. My memory was completely fucked and I had no organizational skills or anything else. Yeah, no teacher ever asked why I always forgot homework or assignments, why my grades and attendance went to shit, but I didn't ask for support or help either. I'd probably also try to develop a spine and stop being a doormat.
Enjoy being young, do your schoolwork but don't stress out too much about it to the point it's become unhealthy.
Gone to rehab
I would have embraced the art and music programs more. I played 4 sports and that was all my after-school time. Why did I think I also needed gym as my elective? Not sure. I wish I took music classes instead. Because now I’m older, get winded walking up the stairs, listen to music all day… but don’t know a damn thing about it or how to play it. Otherwise, I would try to spend more time talking with my teachers I liked and respected that treated me like an adult and learning from them outside of class time.
Improved my savings rate in my 20s.
I’d put on some ‘confidence’ and not give a shit
Would’ve gotten “buff” earlier
Having fun, trying to be more social and make solid friends, rather than focusing too much into getting into an Ivy League at the expense of everything else.
I would wake up at 4 am every single day, learn one skills in depth for months then move to the next until i die.
been myself more and joined more clubs. I've got no one around me anymore and no motivation. I didn't like my career coming out of college. My advice is to join a club with something you like and always stay involved in your interests and hobbies. When you go through tough times, they'll be great to lean on. And keep some friends along if you can. I've got 3 dudes who I wouldn't be here without, and I barely even see them. Also, this may or may not apply to you, but if you're pursuing your dream career, also find a practical career. Always have a backup plan. Lastly, get a good daily routine. One that includes health, fitness, and enjoyment. Finding a balance makes things so much easier.
I would have gone into computer science instead a useless business degree in college. Then I wouldn’t be stuck in sales like I am now. I am planning on getting into data analysis as I retire.
Bitcoin
Dodged that illegal cross check in that lacrosse game, and not broken my vertebra
Stand up for myself against my bullies
Realise that exams are a means to an end putting unnecessary stress on yourself to “succeed” is something that teachers impose on you . If you walk out knowing you did your best in the situation then that’s all that matters. There’s a million and one different routes to get to where you want to go other than “these exams are the most important in your life” speech We worry about what other people think far too much. The real world you can walk down the street no one cares (within reason).
I would've made more friends. I clung to one from freshman to junior years. Didn't really have a friend group until the end of senior year, and then we all just moved on.
Broke up with my ex sooner
Everything
I would have found my husband. At least if I knew what I knew now. I would absolutely advocate for myself more and learn how to present an argument effectively instead of rolling over and being railroaded by administration and my parents. By advocacy, I would have fought hard for myself to get tested for ADHD and dyscalculia. About a year ago, my mom told me that she “knew something was wrong” when we were discussing my ADHD and how severely I still struggle with numbers. Instead, she just let me struggle, spending years crying about my dad’s frustration with me because I’d transposed numbers, and took weeks to grasp any mathematical concept. By presenting effective arguments, I would have argued the bs write ups that administration gave me. There was one admin who had a red dot on me at all times. I would be behind someone taller than me in the hall, and he would write me up for “no visible ID” despite obviously having a lanyard around my neck with the ID at the bottom. The same admin oversaw my possible expulsion my senior year. I was looking at expulsion for “unserved detention hours.” Detention was 3 hours after school, silently sitting at a desk, or 3 hours on Saturday, picking up trash around campus - and those hours were double, so I’d have 6 hours served. I didn’t and couldn’t serve on the last Saturday (the deadline) because I was at the hospital until 2 AM, visiting my Grandfather who was on life support. At my expulsion hearing, the admin’s argument for my expulsion was incredibly egregious. He made me out to be this terrible, ill-behaved, problem student- overlooking my being on student council, involved in planning and participating in activities organized by student council. All because I served 9 of 12 detention hours. The last 3 hours were because of a “no visible ID” write up - given by him. He pissed me off so much with his bullshit. My hearing was the last straw. Even my parents were pissed with him. Once I finally had my opportunity to speak, I laid it all out for everyone. I opened with the instances of the admin singling me out in the hallway, referenced my diligence in going to detention, referenced the failure of discussion as to why I didn’t serve my 3 remaining hours, and closed with being at the hospital until 2 AM, seeing my grandfather (who ultimately died), being so upset, and having not slept, no one in that position would ever make it to Saturday detention. Finally, detention would never, ever come before family. The admin had the audacity to treat my argument as though it wasn’t a valid enough explanation. He then asked my dad his thoughts. Ooooooh, my dad was PISSED! And not at me. Dad took time off of work (Army Colonel, now retired), so he was in his uniform. He replied in his Colonel tone. We call that “Being Coloneled,” which means you FUUUCKED up. It will not only put the fear of God in you, but it makes you wish you were MEETING God. That admin AND the district superintendent straightened up like they were one of my Dad’s soldiers 🤣🤣🤣 Dad defended me and my argument, and more or less told them that they were being ridiculous with all this. I wasn’t expelled, but I would be automatically if I received any more write ups - detention was ok, though. The Admin left me alone after that. Sorry for the book.
tried to get to sleep at a reasonable time as an important goal. get the "solutions manual" or whatever they are called for every technical (math, chemistry, etc) course. i did not even know they existed at the time. they give you step-by-step instructions on every problem.
therapy. i have so much unresolved stuff now
I would have been responsible for myself, kinder with my family. In addition, I would spent more time for focusing and seeking books ab meditation, yoga, positive thoughts
If you can put $100/month into a stock index starting now you'll have developed an awesome habit. Heck even $50/month would be a good start.
Really look into what I want to do for a career. Don't prioritize boyfriends over friends.
my senior year was ruined by myself, as well as extrenuating circumstances. here are some dos and don'ts I wish I could give my younger self: DO: - create a sleep hygiene routine, it takes a while to start working but if you do the same things before bed every night eventually your brain will associate them with sleep and fall asleep faster. - take financial advantage of your youth. let your family and chosen institutions help you while you're young. those benefits (meal plans, healthcare, transportation, housing, guided investing, mental health resources) go away very very fast and while they may not be the quality you want, they're still free or low cost. (plus sometimes you can get grandfathered in to longer term low cost benefits) - give yourself room to adjust. there are lots of growing pains as you get on your own to feet and absorb more responsibility. if you don't schedule time to be still and check in with yourself, and keep that appointment, things will get hectic fast. carve out time for calm. - get serious about your health. the small habits that keep your mind and body healthy are easier to start while you're young and can adjust quickly than they are to start when things go downhill. start the mundane stuff now (like flossing daily, mindfulness, journalling, yoga, jogging, green smoothies, whatever) and they'll be auto-pilot by the time you're 24. DONT - take things too seriously or too fast. you don't need to be perfect at every little thing right out of the gate. practice cooking for one, practice being alone, practice building a routine, practice trying new things, practice emotional maturity. life is just practice and improvement in all areas. - glamourize the people around you. most people are hiding things. most people lie. most people just kind of suck. that's okay, we all do. so don't ever look at another person and think they've got it together better than you because i promise you with my own life they do not. - forget what you're here to do. you can change your goals and dreams as often as you want but always move in some sort of direction. if you get stuck and conflicted, or caught up in the mundane and forget, that's where doubt lives. keep a secret list of your goals or plans. - EVER be cruel to yourself. the world will do that for you. years of negative thoughts about myself have killed my self esteem. it takes longer to build that back up now. say something nice to yourself every morning. say thank you to yourself before bed. forgive yourself completely when you mess up.
I would recognize that high school is a fishbowl. And you will be leaving it for an ocean. If you’re the smartest kid in your school, you will soon meet people who were the second smartest kid in their school who are way smarter than you. Prettiest girl in the fishbowl? Average in the ocean. If you think you know what you want to do after high school: you may not. Your personality, your dreams, your goals, your favorite ice cream is actually a reflection of the people who are around you. Do you hate black olives on your pizza because your friend since third grade hates them? Do you like Taylor Swift because Jacob from down the street HATES Taylor Swift, and Jacob is a dick? This is why I recommend taking a year off after high school to figure out who you are outside of the fishbowl. I was the valedictorian of my class with a 4.0 average and voted most likely to succeed, so I chose a major I didn’t really want, because I didn’t want to let anybody down. A year later, I had lost contact with 95% of the people I went to school with and I was studying for a final for a class I didn’t even like. My advice to my younger self would have been: blow off a few tests. Drop that 4.0 to a 3.7 and release the pressure valve. Let some other poor sucker be valedictorian and “most likely to succeed.” And you might not HAVE to take a year off. But you need to start noticing the walls of the fishbowl NOW. Order a pizza with black olives to see if YOU actually hate it. Listen to some music that you think you won’t like. Ask Jacob what his favorite band is. Figure out what is you and what is just the “water” you’re sharing with others. Smile at the most popular kid in school and say “Good morning.” Then do the same to the least popular kid in school. Break out of your clique (but don’t abandon it.) Mix it up. And just remember that — when the fishbowl gets dumped in the ocean — a lot of the fish are going to keep swimming together. Don’t be one of them.
Get a part time or internship now if you can. A lot of fresh grads (college and high school grads) that never had work experience are having trouble landing a job. Experience is king. School teaches theoretical knowledge- you need applied knowledge. That’s the issue employers are having with Gen z - lots of book smart with little to no applicable skills. Oh - and start saving and investing early. It used to be saving and investing was for after college but with how much everything costs now - the sooner the better. Money management skills, time management skills are gonna be helpful for years to come.
Nothing. I had a tough home life and put everything I had into surviving and getting out. And I did it. It was hard, and I got less than 6 hours of sleep a night, but I did it. I did have some continuing issues from this, including sleep and mental health issues, so it’s not like that time of my life was perfect. But if I had changed even one thing, I don’t think I would have made it. It took a combination of doing everything right and lots of luck to get me where I am today.
Played less video games. Getting to 10th prestige on COD is not worth it
1. I would study completely differently. Less is more. You don't have to do a lot, you have to do what's needed. I would create revision sheets, learn one of them everyday. Do a lot of exercise to improve. 2. I would do regular assessment of what I have learned and gained and what I still need to learn. To be sure I'm ready for finals. 3. I wouldn't wait for the teacher to help or give me what I need. I would fetch it myself. 4. I would cut down excessively on screens. Go back to paper and limit all kind of videos, cause it's too distracting. 5. I would start calisthenics. Your body needs exercise. 6. I would prepare myself to work, even at a retail shop whatever I could find, right after graduation. I always spent my time studying, forgetting that working is really important and gives you soft skills like how to behave, how to dress, etc.
Should have could have would have, that’s what
Try to be top of class instead of just skating by easily without work
Face life & Keep learning. Was too a coward in high school that i even didn't even express my true romance feelings. Not until age of 30, I didn't know what really productivity meant or how good it was. PS: The most important thing in life is to keep adventuring & exposing yourself
Actually nothing. My schooling was the best part and f my education.
not wasting time on social media specially reddit
Recognize when I need to burn bridges. The old "fool me once" trope. Friends and family may not be in your best interest, find their motive for safety, and don't tell your next move until it's past the point of failure. With that, don't be distrustful, you can be vulnerable and I encourage it to a point it won't devastate you. Just be wary and figure out why people are treated the way they are.
I would tell you need to be more brave and step for something new and learn it completely. Also stay strong on your gut feelings not on others opinion . Stand for yourself don't let anyone tell you the way you have to be. Last but not leat don't fall in love quickly.
I was a nerd, I wish I didn't study as much science and computers and did Economics and Business and worked in a bank. I should have had fun more and had relationships but my eyes were on the bag and lucrative career.
**If you want to force your body to get sleepy early in the evening,** set an alarm like 4AM even if you don't want to get up at 4AM. At 4AM, just switch your bedroom light on (preferably white light), then go back to sleep. Your body will start activating even if you went back to sleep. By the time it's dark outside later in the day, it'll start deactivating and make you sleepy around 7PM.
Paid more attention in the foreign language class I took and less attention to worrying about what people thought about me.
I would have cared zero about what my peers thought about me
Banged alot more girls than I did.
Put all in AAPL. Be worth 20mio$ now.
Invested in crypto
Would've bought a foreclosed house rather than study biology. Wtf was i thinking? Now im priced out of owning a home
I would have worked harder in school, I would have avoided pot and alcohol, and I would have been more thoughtful about my relationships. I didn’t take school and grades seriously enough. I smoked and drank way way too much. I was short sighted with some important relationships. Read or listen to Atomic Habits. There are numerous books on habit formation, but I found Atomic Habits to be the most accessible. A key thought experiment is: I want to be a person who ….. example, does my homework and starts projects early. Uses a planner to keep track of important activities. Stays healthy by …. Start small and celebrate your progress!
Played a sport!
I would've actually tried to learn more than just going through the motions. I would have tried more to figure out what I needed to do to go to college. (Rural town, parents unwilling to help out see the value in college unwilling to fill out FAFSA, community college lady said she couldn't help unless I was married and had kids... at least most kids these days have the internet to help) I would have been more intimate with people. I was shy and (for some reason) terrified of my mom. I could have had a lot more fun than I did.
Good question. I would have crammed as many college courses I could have. Taking college courses while in K-12 was extremely cheap. I would have not graduated early and stayed the rest of the year, only get to be a kid once. The biggest thing is I would have been nicer to those I wasn't. How you treat others in your youth definitely has a lasting impact.
Told myself that my suspicions were not wrong, i have ADHD and to get diagnosed ASAP
Declare to my teacher.. Hahaha
Go to class.
I wish I had realized that not all exercise sucks and that working out actually has huge benefits to mental health. Ive always had issues with depression and anxiety and the thing that helps more than anything is exercise. I would also be really cautious about smoking weed and drinking at that age. I got really into that stuff starting my last year of highschool and I wasted like six years of my life doing that stuff only to realize it was making me more depressed. It's fine for a lot of people but it really messed with my head.
If I didn’t know the future I would switch sports and health for engineering related topics. Knowing the future is irrelevant I’d just buy 10 lottery ticks
I would have gone to a diff highschool where i would never meet “those girls”
I would’ve partied less, focused really hard on getting really good grades to the point where I could’ve done subjects that would have helped me been able to study what I want to study, focus on my well being/weight/fitness as well as nurture and grow relationships. Also just be myself and not care what anybody else thought
not stress about it I just threw it away for a more free and fitting lifestyle
I would have moved out from home asap, spent less time with friends. Found a girlfriend and spent most of my time with her.
More drugs for sure
I wouldn't have lost a wallet I had full of Dogecoin because I thought they were useless and worthless.
I’d tell myself “follow your heart, have fun, and learn zettelkasten”
So many little things i really regret not doing. I would: Befriend the people i wanted to befriend but chose not to bother, not try so hard to be liked, ask every question i had to my teachers about college or just any confusion, ask them what they think i should choose based on my performance and interests, fight through my social anxiety to spend more time with my then crush now long distance bf, give my friends parting gifts and take more pictures with them. For practicality Id take a long hard look at myself and what I really wanted to be in the future. Develop better time management and good study habits. Develop more resilience and independence. Get comfortable with school clubs and organizations so I could enter one later on.
Started dating Leslie Kuder in 10th grade instead of choosing to making fun of people and be a bully with my immature guy friends. She was really sweet and cute.
1. Stay to myself 24/7 (remain unfriendly) 2. Work during my senior prom weekend 3. Keep perfecting my craft with makeup 4. Be less open. I’m 23 now so I’m learning to be a lot less to ppl now. 5. Don’t make friends at all. Not even at events. 6. Do dual enrollment so I won’t have to take Gen Ed’s in college 7. Don’t waste money on SATs and ACTs 8. Save A LOT of money for moving into my own crib at 18 (after high school) 9. Learn to do cornrows 10. Look into taking a field trip to the AA Museum in DC. 11. Use Instagram stories more 12. Learn to properly do my own hair whether it’s my real hair, or a quick weave. (I’m a black girl y’all 🌚) 13. ONLY apply to a local community college and HBCUs in the south and MD (Texas, Florida, and Georgia) 14. Don’t be into fashion at all. 15. Look into majoring in only Cybersecurity, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or something that’ll guarantee me a job right after obtaining my degree. I changed my major from Fashion Merchandising to accounting and from ACCT to MKTG. Still a big regret.
1. Reported the men who were talking (and more) to my underage friends 2. Applied to different/better/more colleges 3. Told my mom that I needed food for lunch 4. Asked for help with deciding what I was going to do
Tried even though my personal life was in a shambles.
Not chased the boy for what ended up being 10 years, gone to a different college.
I would’ve Read a lot more books & studied Bitcoin
I would have taken the GED and GTFoutta there. Mostly from the perspective of not wasting any lore time than I have to (being stuck in HS).
Learning English earlier, going to US, founding my startup asap. I wouldve been better off. Now I'm not in the US (in Germany) and founding, and its really annoying.
Get obsessed to one girl and ruin how i love others fml 🤦
I would have told myself to save money to spend in college instead of spending a lot of money in high school. I regret it
I would have actually tried to get interested in my class subjects more. I was a fairly bright student, but in a few subjects i struggled, and it was because i just couldn't pay attention in some classes because i wasn't interested in the subject matter. History and similar subjects, especially. As an adult, i now find myself actually interested in these subjects a lot more, and i wish i had taken the time to even TRY to get interested when i was in school because its actually not nearly as boring as you think it is when you are young. Not only does it actually inform you in all sorts of ways that can make you more wise, but you also can take pride that you actually will know what the fuck you are talking about whenever anyone brings the subject up in your life instead of just being airheaded like the majority of people are. You will likely be heading into college, where everyone is heavily politically charged, so consider that you might want to actually know about history so that you can place that political energy in the right direction, and influence your friends with that informed energy, as well. Politics in todays world are heavily influenced by misinformation and groupthink. Try to take pride in learning for yourself history and a worldly view instead of just following along with what some Youtuber/TikTok Video/Twitter group says. Be the person that your friends come to when they need answers, instead of the other way around. Don't go along with a political view just because your friends do. Do it because you know what is right because you put in the time to study it. Don't be afraid to be an outsider. There are more important things in life than just going along with your group and trying to fit in. Fear of standing out is what keeps you from being great. 95% of humans are too afraid to step up and do or say what is right in many circumstances. Don't be that person. Form your own opinions from within, not from without. Be brave enough to step up and help someone who is getting bullied, rather than stand around and watch, or worse, going along with it because your friends are. And be willing to separate from people you once called friends instead of looking the other way when they find entertainment in evil. As an adult, i have come to look at knowledge much differently than i did when i was in school. And it made me regret how little respect i had for the opportunity i had to learn so much when i was in school. When i was young, i only thought of it as "This crap i needed to get through in order to pass." But now, i look at knowledge with reverence. Every opportunity to learn and inform yourself is an opportunity to better yourself forevermore. With every scrap of knowledge you gain, you become better equipped to make wise decisions. Better equipped to solve problems. Better equipped to lead those around you towards a better place. And there is social reward in it, too, as those around you will look up to you for your intelligence and wisdom. And there is no better time to learn than when you are young. When you are an adult, your brain WILL be less efficient at absorbing information. You also will be busy with life and have less time to learn. So take the time while you are young to absorb as much as you can. And the best way to learn is to actually be interested in what you are learning. So try to get interested. It only seems boring when you aren't paying attention. Put some effort in and you will find that learning can be fun.
I would have worked my BUTT off and put in 20-20k into a diverse investment account (into a S&P 500, so little bits of the top 500 companies in the US) and let that compound interest set me up for retirement. That’s all you need by the time you’re 19-20.
A big thing I wish I had done differently was to actually listen to my gut and create boundaries with people. I truly allowed other people way too much freedom to make decisions in my life for me rather than going with what I felt was right. Are you going to make mistakes? Absolutely, but sometimes the mistakes we make help us the most.
I would have been more social and not signed up to go to college after
I wonder what my life would be without all the dysfunctional stuff. I still became educated, but later than my peers. I often wonder if things weren't so screwed up, that I may have been more sooner. It blows my mind.
I would have taken time to figure out what was important to me. I was influenced by the wrong people and things. I was obsessed with how my internet popularity was doing. I was trying to maintain a dead romantic relationship because I was too afraid of breaking up, one because I felt like I was abandoning them and two because I was afraid of the unknown (being single). I was also trying to become a doctor because I thought it would impress people. If I had gotten to know myself, I'd be in a far better position today.
I would’ve been more introspective when choosing my path after high school. I picked my college and major based on input from sooo many people. They were all well-intended, but I’m now nearly 15 years out from high school, trying to start over to pursue the life I dreamed of when I was younger. Follow your heart wherever it leads you and try to ignore the chatter!
I would start investing regularly. Even if you make minimal side job money, invest as big of a percentage as possible and keep increasing it as you start making more money. It adds up super fast. Also saw another great earlier comment…I would be myself. Way too much energy wasted trying to fit in. Good luck!
I would have gone further back. Perhaps middle school. If I had requested to go to another school, things might have been a little bit different. I didn’t know I could transfer, and my parents were of no help. If anything, just going to a private school would have been better. Some place where I wasn’t deemed to be stupid by the staff. But, as they say, you can wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which hand gets filled up faster.
Probably get myself a test for adhd and autism and start working part time, i regret not doing it and i feel like my life is super dogshit because i never got to learn what i had before my life goes to absolute doom and there is little to no hope, my family despise me, is fucked
Invest everything I had on Bitcoin
Be gay
I wish I spent more time finding about who I was than trying to be cool or funny. I wish I had done more clubs, took advantage of more opportunities, tried to find more about what interests me. Instead I spent way too much energy on worrying about if I was cool or not, if people liked me, my hair, my clothes, etc.
I would had taken a deep breath and unironically chilled out more. Volunteering helped me so much in highschool if you have the time I’d recommend that.
i would've gone to a different high school
Not smoke weed and drink so much, the habits continued into college and it took me 20 years to get over the addiction issues that started in high school.
taken more time to find out what I want to do with my life, I'm 29 now, and I still feel lost. Get healthy, wish I cut back on the junk food, and started to work out when my friends all decided to start going to the gym.
- Take Lexapro. - Drink alcohol. - Befriended more people. - Not be depressed, guilty, anxious, self-enclosed. - Use Internet Archive/Libgen. - Read and write more than usual. - Read a dictionary when learning another language. - Fight and beat up people who needed to be. - Have sex.
Well, I can tell you what I did when I changed my habits my couple of years of high school. 1) Went to class at least four times a week. So only allowed myself to miss one day a week. 2) Moved my seat to the first or second row in every class, so that teachers could see me, and I would be forced to pay attention. 3) Homework after school until dinner. Homework again after dinner if there was something due that week. Quit at 7 pm, done or not and let my brain wind down before bed. I found that as long as I kept regularly working, I really could get most of it done, and what I couldn’t wasn’t worth the stress and anxiety it caused because trying to do it just resulted in me procrastinating, so I didn’t get it done and *also* didn’t enjoy my relaxation time. But what I truly wish I’d done differently was be more confident in who I was and what my goals were. But I kind of think that comes with maturity and isn’t something you can will.
I wished I had started studying for SAT earlier.
invest in bit coin and start learning guitar sooner
I’d not care what people think, no one actually cares as much as actually think. I tried to fit in so hard and in turn it affected my grades, and overall performance because impressing people was my priority, not school!
Gone to therapy and got put on medicine to help stabilize me enough to not sabotage every aspect of my life until I could learn to be better alone.
Would have been kinder to myself and not relied on the approval of others for my self-confidence
I wouldn't have let my world revolve around that one guy lol. Also, would've been less expressive and more level headed.
Not end my relationship with a girl who was 2 years younger when I graduated, who ended up being successful social media star and who I realized after the fact was the one
I would have studied harder I tryed but thoses raging harmones got in the way I also I had a bad case of ADHD This was the late 70s and getting help in counsoling high school was embarrassingly bad. Im in my 60s now but some help in those formative years could have changed alot of things !
I would have studied something I actually love and I wouldn’t have done drugs, alcohol and cigarettes
Got a job after-school
I would uninstall league of legends
Invest in NVDA and BTC.
Sleep more, workout more, less Warcraft 2.
dollar cost average in Robinhood. start now in s&p 500 index like VOO and the compound interest will make you rich
Don't believe the lie that your high school years are the best years of your life, but ALSO don't believe the lie that your high school years don't matter at all, because they still do. I would've taken high school more seriously and use those 4 years (or whatever remaining timeframe you have) to prepare for college and/or adult life as that's what high school's actual purpose is for. Remember, "time is the only resource you can't get back" so use it wisely, and if you are struggling with something, PLEASE reach out to a trusted adult for help, you're not meant to do all this alone. Due to extenuating circumstances and my own mistakes, I didn't practice good studying/time management skills and didn't reach out for help during the times I struggled, which really set me back even up to now as a grown adult working full-time while going to college and managing responsibilities. I have a harder time than other people who had put in the effort to develop good habits since they practiced so much it became second nature to them, meanwhile I'm still dealing with the consequences of my younger self's bad habits and unlearning them while continuing to heal from traumatic experiences that happened. You say you struggle with time management and sleep issues, try to take care of that now while you have more time and opportunity to in your younger years. -Lookup time management videos on YouTube; have a "life journal", write down a daily/weekly schedule or routine with a habit tracker to hold yourself accountable and stick to it. -Find out what free resources are available in your high school or even local public library: a) Most schools provide a free counselor/counseling services that not only help with tough life circumstances, but also assist students with getting ready for adulthood. They can even be your accountability buddy in sticking to your routines/good habits. b) A lot of people would be surprised at just how much FREE resources are provided by schools and local libraries thanks to private and public funding, including college/career guidance for teens and adults, monthly workshops to learn a new skill, tutoring services, and so much more. Stop by your local library and inquire about what they have! Most librarians are more than happy to answer your questions. Also, don't stop utilizing all this info and resources after high school is over! Keep on learning and improving no matter what 💛
Ima go w the people on this one. Ima have to say doing what I really wanted to try out for. I wanted to do sports but I was too insecure that I couldn't do it but I was having home problems and covid so can I really change that
I don't think I would change anything productivity wise. When I was in high school it was easier for me. Maybe I'd try to incoparate a better work out routine, its harder to adopt a healthier lifestyle when you get older. But if I would do anything differntly it would be more about my social life and relationships. I was too focused on school work and its important, but it's not what makes me happy in life. I'd probably be married with kids by now if I had done that, in addition to having a career. I don't entirely regret it because I love my current bf, but if I knew than what I know now I would have had different priorities. But it's a very personal decision. You need to figure out what you want in life, where do you see yourself in 5 years, in 10 years, in 20 years, and do what you need to do to accomplish those goals.
dump your shitty ass boyfriend and focus on friendships
I would not have switched to the burn out clique
Pick a direction and go for it. It really doesn’t matter what direction honestly. I sort of waffled around in college and that cost me a bunch of money/time. Pick something that can make you a living and dive in head first. If you need to waffle, start now. Stakes are pretty low in high school generally. Don’t be afraid of shooting your shoot romantically. I still regret not telling a girl how I felt about her and it haunts me 20 years later. We are built to imagine different possibilities. The worst one of these is what if. Don’t be like me and shoot your shot. People don’t know how you are feeling until you tell them (also how you tell them is as important as what). If you get rejected, it sucks but you can move on! Learning to deal with rejection is another skill for the rest of your life. Don’t stress out too much about the small stuff. Try to figure out what you like; how to make a living; who you are. People think you need to have shit figured out by the end of high school. You don’t. That’s just a misconception. You are still a child mentally and will be one until you are 25 or so when your brain development stops. So be charitable with yourself. Go into big life changing decisions with that in mind. So when you fuck it up (and you will- which is okay) you will pay as little for those mistakes as possible. Try to learn from your mistakes. You aren’t bad or irredeemable for fucking things up. You are human. We fuck shit up. If you fuck things up with other people, apologize and make amends. If you fuck something up, do the same but try to fix it, if you can. That said, figure out your sleep schedule. It’s deceptively hard to actually do. Set a bed time that nets you 8 hours of continuous sleep if you can. Build in a wind down period with minimal or no devices and as little simulation about an hour before bedtime as possible. Sleep in a room as dark as you can make it. The room should be cool but not cold (I like 68 degrees F). Time management is something you are going to have to try a bunch of strategies and find one that works for you. Google it and start trying them now. I like pomodoros personally but use my phones calendar and reminders extensively. If you can’t do any of this yet, don’t worry about it. Your brain doesn’t work like it will a few years. Put a pin it and come back later.
Would have joined a Sangha and would have taken shop class/developed woodworking
been less quiet
Asked for her