Advice to Teenagers: 12 Things I Wish I Knew when I was 15

Being a teenager is difficult, but sometimes the advice from someone who has been through it and has perspective can help. Here are some things I wish I knew when I was 15, and some advice I wish someone older had given me at the time.

1.) Being stupid is not cute or cool; it's just...well, stupid. Sometimes it can seem that the smart people in high school are unpopular and nerdy, while the popular people are the ones who don't care as much about school, and it can be tempting to follow suit. But trust me, smart is sexier than stupid any day, and ultimately leads to more success. It may not seem so at the time, but being smart will definitely pay off in the future, and help you feel more confident in the present. So keep learning, reading, and studying.

2.) In order to get by in this world, you have to really know yourself, and who you really are. So many teenagers struggle with identity issues--trying to fit in, trying to do what their parents want them to do, etc. What they should be doing is taking the time to get to know themselves. That involves being introspective, and spending time alone. It involves being aware of what is enjoyable to oneself and what isn't, and spending more time doing what one really loves. It may sound cliche, but it's a cliche because it's true and needs to be said again and again: you won't truly be happy until you learn how to completely be yourself.

3.) Embrace the things you love to do. Whether it's art, music, sports, writing, studying a specific subject, a number of these things, or something else, if you love to do something, do it! Do it often, find different ways to get involved with it. Try to do it for the love of doing it, and not to prove yourself at it. If you allow yourself to really do something for the love of it, and not for winning or being the best at it, you will get so much more out of it.

4.) Go to college. Seriously, just go. I didn't originally want to go to college but my parents made me, and now I'm so glad they did. Remember, college isn't just about your book studies and academic education, it's also about learning experiences that occur outside the classes. It's about allowing yourself to grow and change, and sometimes that's more difficult to do when your life stays mostly the same after high school.

5.) On that note, sometimes high school may seem bad, but believe me, life gets so much better. Many of the people who hate high school really flourish in college, which is a completely different environment. High school does not have to define your life, so don't let it get you down. Just keep on going and know that things will get better for you.

6.) Being closed minded never gets anyone anywhere good. Open your mind; be open to different kinds of ideas, beliefs, food, people, etc. Question your commonly held beliefs--a lot of the things we are implicitly taught over the years are actually harmful and need to be discouraged. Try to carefully consider all different viewpoints--even if you disagree, at least try to figure out where the other person is coming from. That will make you more open and understanding.

7.) Change is scary but it can also be good. Try to embrace change--it's a huge part of life, and it always will be. The sooner you allow yourself to be okay with it, the easier it will get. Being open to change is good. It allows you to experience a lot of different things, which is a big part of life.

8.) Eat healthy. When I was growing up, nobody told me how my eating habits affected my every day life, and I wish they had. But eating healthy is not just something that you do for the future, to lengthen your life. When you eat healthy, you feel better and look better. You have more energy, less physical problems. Your skin and hair get healthier. And eating healthy does not have to mean boring or gross food. Just eating more vegetables and fruit, less processed foods and sugar, can go a long way.

9.) Listen to your parents and consider their advice; understand where they're coming from, but also don't let them make you into who they think you should be if it's not who you know you are. It's a fine line to walk, but an important one. Even if you don't always agree with them, don't disregard everything they tell you. At the same time, don't let them try to make you into someone else. If you do feel they are trying to do this, talk to them about it calmly and reasonably.Try to be as honest and open with them as possible; a lack of communication never solved any problems.

10.) Understanding is key for interpersonal relationships. First, you need to understand who you are and why you do what you do, think what you think, and feel what you feel. Then you want to try to extend this understanding to everyone else in your life--your family, your friends, your teachers, your acquaintances, your coworkers, even your enemies. It's easy to dehumanize people you disagree with or are angry at, but that will not get you anywhere--it will just leave you feeling upset and helpless. If you instead try to understand where other people are coming from, and cut them some slack, not only will you feel more at peace with yourself and others but you will also be a better friend and have more fulfilling relationships.

11.) You are most likely not going to marry the person you are dating in high school, and that's okay. Your first few relationships can feel really significant, and when they end it can feel like the end of the world, but as anyone who's older will tell you, you move on and the next relationship you have is even better. So don't take your relationships too seriously yet--enjoy them for what they are at the moment, don't plan too far into the future, and when they end think of them as a learning experience, and know that things will get better. And remember, most people feel afraid that they are going to be alone forever when they aren't in a relationship, but it's a completely unfounded fear. And I know lots of people who didn't date at all in high school who ended up getting married shortly after college. So don't worry so much about it.

12.) Hating yourself is never going to make your life any better in any way. So you need to learn to like (and ultimately, love) yourself. When you find yourself focusing on your flaws, shut that voice up and think about your positives. Work on becoming more of the person you want to be, without changing who you ultimately are. Find something that makes you feel good about yourself and focus on that. Surround yourself with supportive people who love you, and distance yourself from those who make you feel bad. And just remember: everyone and everything, no matter how great, beautiful, nice, or amazing, gets criticized. A few minutes on the internet can make that clear. So learn to ignore negative comments, and remember not to take them personally.