1. Everything happens for a reason.
One night over the summer, I was sitting in my room thinking, “I’m an incoming sophomore in college and I’m almost 20 years old and I still don’t know what I believe in.” That was a weird moment for me because I started to think so deeply about why things happen, why I do what I do, and it made me feel like I was having self-identity problems. Then I started to believe that everything happens for a reason and since July, this thought process has become a lifestyle and has gotten me through some of my hardest situations.
2. Sometimes the timing just isn’t right.
Stay patient. As cliché as it sounds, if it’s meant to be, it will be. If the timing isn’t right, there’s a reason for it. Just roll with it and let it happen.
3. Things are never as bad as you think.
It can always be worse. Maybe this isn’t the most inspirational thing you’ll ever hear, but it’s true. Plus, if bad things don’t happen then there’s no way to appreciate the good.
4. It’s okay not to have yourself completely figured out.
We spend so much time wanting to grow up and sometimes we forget that just because the days go by and our age increases, it doesn’t mean we have to have our entire life figured out. Everyone experiences a time when they have trouble understanding themselves, their thoughts, and their actions. It can, understandably, be extremely difficult to fight off that inner battle in your head, but you just have to let yourself live and learn and eventually that battle will end and you will be more comfortable in your own skin than ever before. Never let other people make you feel like you’re wrong for not having all the answers, and always remember that these are the times of our lives when we’re becoming the best version of ourselves—it just doesn’t happen at the same pace for all of us. Our identity is always evolving and changing and that’s what makes us unique and what makes life so exciting everyday.
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5. Sometimes all you need is a fun night out with your friends.
Always remember that good friends are so important when it comes to being happy and enjoying life. Don’t take your friends for granted; treat them the same way you want them to treat you, and always be spontaneous.
6. You never NEED a relationship.
A wise Hailee Steinfeld once sang, “I love myself, no I don’t need anybody else!” LOL. Although the actual meaning of this catchy pop tune is a little controversial, some of the lyrics have a good point. You need to learn to love yourself before you can love someone else, and don’t let anybody make you feel otherwise.
7. Being civil doesn’t have to mean being fake.
You won’t like everyone and not everyone will like you. Some people just don’t get along. However, one of the most important lessons I learned this year is that not getting along with someone IS OKAY as long as I can be mature enough to not let that ruin the time being spent together.
8. Always remove yourself from toxic relationships.
It’s way easier said than done, of course, but ridding yourself of people who bring negativity into your life is vital. It’s a huge weight lifted off your shoulders and I promise that lack of negativity will make you so much happier. It did for me.
9. Happiness isn’t temporary—sadness is.
For the past 8 years of my life, I’ve been trying to convince myself that I need to be happy. Whenever I would get sad, I would decide that obviously I’d never experience complete and total happiness. This past year I realized that permanent happiness is a myth. It’s learning to be at peace with yourself and understanding that it’s okay to be sad sometimes, because that’s the part that is temporary and will end. My favorite quote of all time reads: “Everything will be okay in the end. If everything is not okay, then it’s not the end.” I’ll never forget this quote, and I hope everyone reading this doesn’t forget it either.
10. Take responsibility for your actions.
Sometimes we screw up. We’re human. We say things we don’t mean, we do things we later regret, but at the end of the day, we need to take responsibility for our actions and own up to them. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
11. Make the most of whatever time you have.
I recently learned that it’s so much more rewarding to let myself experience something risky than to overthink it and regret it later. For myself, this happened to be about a boy who I met at the wrong time in my life but we decided that we would always regret not making the most of the little time we had together. It was totally worth it. I just hope he’s not reading this!
12. It’s important to find somewhere that can always make you feel better.
I could sit on the swinging benches in front of Straz for hours. Honestly…sometimes I do. I people-watch, I listen to music, I read, and sometimes I’ll even do homework. It’s my thinking spot and sitting there always calms me down and makes me feel at peace. Everyone deserves a spot like that. (Note to Spartans: don’t take my spot.)
13. Always back up your friends.
Be smart…use common sense. Your friends need you, and you need your friends. Never forget that. Don’t hookup with the guy your friend likes and always support your friends’ dreams and goals.
14. The past is the past.
We’ve all been to hell and back. Going through something terrible seems to be a rite of passage for young adulthood. Moving on from the past and evolving from what you went through is difficult, but important. What happened during your sophomore year of high school is irrelevant now; there’s no way you’re anything close to the person you were back then.
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15. Sometimes it’s okay to put yourself first.
There’s a difference between being selfish and understanding that you can’t help others until you help yourself. Always choose yourself, always spend time increasing your own confidence, always smile in the mirror, and always believe that you deserve to be happy as much as the person next to you does.