20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was 18 - Part One

The school year is coming to an end, and for many high school seniors it's a time to think about the future. Here are 20 things I wish someone had told me when I was 18.

The end of the school year is in sight, and high school seniors are starting to think about their futures. Is college in the cards? Trade school? Finding a job? It can be confusing to know what the right choices are.

For me, my daughter will be turning 18 in a few months, and I have found myself thinking more and more about what advice I would want to give to her, or to any soon-to-be adult about planning for their future.

So, here are 20 things I wish someone had told me when I was 18.

1. 
   
   Chase your dreams while you are able – Life is tricky, and if you aren't careful, you can find yourself with a family and a mortgage before you know it. Take some time now to think about what you are passionate about. Find out what your dream is and chase it while you are young and still have the time, enthusiasm and energy to do it.
   
   


2. 
   
   You will regret the opportunities you didn't take much more than the ones that didn't pan out – Of all the things I regret in my life, most of them are things I didn't do rather than mistakes I made. Many times in my early adulthood, I would find out about an opportunity and then talk myself out of going for it. The self doubt and worrying about all of the what-ifs can be crippling.
   
   


3. 
   
   Be prepared to make lots and lots of mistakes – When you make mistakes, you know that you are growing. And, as long as you are growing, you know that you are alive. If you never made a mistake, you wouldn't be challenged. What fun is that?
   
   


4. 
   
   Try on new ideas – When you hear of an idea or opportunity that sounds interesting, try it out. Don't let the fear of looking silly or being embarrassed prevent you from exploring new things. No one is really watching you as hard as you think, and there is no shame in being brave.
   
   


5. 
   
   Always be honest, with yourself and with others – Lying is just a waste of time. Be honest in your relationship, but most of all, be honest with yourself. Don't let other people tell you how you should feel or who you should be, and don't try to be the person you think you should be or beat yourself up for not feeling the way you think you should. If you make honesty a priority, you can just be the person you are.
   
   


6. 
   
   You don't have to go to college right away – If you don't know what your passion is, how on earth can you chase it? There is this assumption that after high school, you have to go to college. If you don't feel like you are ready to succeed in that environment, take a year off and figure out what it is that you love. There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting college a year late or even going to a trade school rather than opting to pursue a degree.
   
   


7. 
   
   Trust your instincts – In almost any situation, trust your gut. When you tune in to your intuition and your instincts, you are almost always right. If you feel like something is really important to do, do it. Don't try to second guess yourself over and over and don't do things that you feel aren't right just because you want to be “nice”.
   
   


8. 
   
   If you are stuck worrying about something so much that you can't sleep, get up and write it out – When you are in a vicious cycle of doubt and worry, the best way to get it off your chest is to write it down. Once you have it out on paper, it doesn't have to be stuck in your head keeping you from getting a good night's sleep.
   
   


9. 
   
   It's more important to know where to find the answer – If you know how to research and find out the answer, then you don't need to try to remember every single fact. It is impossible to know everything, instead, just learn how to research.
   
   


10. 
    
    Live within your means – You don't have to have a lot of money to do the things you want and to have a great time. You can never win the game of who has the best, most expensive stuff. So, don't even bother. Lunch in the park can be just as much fun as a day at the mall, it just depends on your outlook.
    
    
    
    
    Stay tuned for Part Two in this series for numbers 11-20
    
    
    
    
    
    
    If you are looking for a job in the Philadelphia area, visit PhillyJobs for the best Philadelphia are job listings.
    
    
    
    
    By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.