Calling all Time Travellers.... what advice would you give your teenage self?

I suppose this is one for any oldsters that happen by the young persons' board..... but younger people might find it gives them pause for thought.   Imagine if you had access to a time-machine that would take you back to your teenage years.   What nugget of advice would you give your teenage self?   And do you think they'd have taken you seriously?

I'd love to go back and tell my teenage self that she was much more beautiful than she thought and to stop fussing about a few freckles. 

I would tell my 9th grade self to TRY NEW THINGS!  Don't be afraid to go out for cheerleading, and the school play, and that I am very talented even if my dad didn't see past my academic smarts!  BE adventursome and ask the guy out that I liked instead of wishing he would ask me, and when that very sweet older guy said he liked me...I would tell myself to go for it and not shut him down just because I was afriad!

LIVE IN THE MOMENT FOR THEY ARE FLEETING!

"Cheer up goth!"

hahaha

But seriously, I'd tell myself not to take things so seriously, and to cut down on the alcohol. I'd also tell myself to save some money so that now I wouldn't be so poor!!!

That is easy I would tell my teenage self everything I know now so my teenage self could get even more girls.

Oh wait you wanted me to tell my self about nutrituion so I guess I would say "self, just nod your head while I am talking to you because I know that you will not listen to a word I say anyway"  Then my teenage self would kick my ass because I would accidently tell him I lived with a cat for two years in college and my teenage self would be pissed!

great topic, jane.

i would tell myself: play sports, even though you suck at it.

I would definitely tell myself that I would be happier and have more real friends just as soon as I stopped caring so much about being cool and what everyone else is thinking.  I would give myself some pointers on how to eat right, as in, starving yourself all day and then binging on empty calories at the end of the day isn't the way to go.  I would tell myself that while I shouldn't obsess to the point of crying over a B, I also shouldn't blow school off completely later on...

I would tell my 15 year old self:

• Forget about the extra hours at the minimum wage retail job. Having gas and money for music albums isn't worth the loss of sleep because you're up all night doing homework that would take less time to do if you weren't so freaking tired.
• Get interested in school again. You CAN go to college right after high school. The guidance councilor hasn't mentioned financial aid to you because he has no idea you're NOT planning to go with your grades, he just didn't know to ask! And there's a zillion other scholarships and grants you ARE elligible for. Besides, the money to pay for school will come later, but the TIME to go to class gets harder and harder to come by. Do you really want to take over 14 years getting a degree?
• I know you just moved from farmland to an apartment against your will, but that's no reason to stop running. Those people watching you run down the street aren't judging you, they're feeling guilty for not being out there running too. 
• Your friends will STILL like you if you DON'T smoke with them. They like hanging out with you, not your cigarette butts.
• No matter what you change, go to your aunt's for New Year's Eve. The guy you meet is one in a billion, and snatching him out of high school was like winning the lottery.

That 79 in AP Calculus really wasn't the end of the world. You'll still end up in a good school.

Think about things before you buy them. I can't believe how much money I could have saved if I had just thought for ONE second about if I would actually use the thing.

Get over that teenage angst. The world doesn't put up with that, and your parents really know more than you give them credit for.

I would my high school age self  this:

Dear Younger Me,

Don't waste your time crying over guys or trying to live up to their impossible expectations. You are beautiful just the way you are. Models are airbrushed. They aren't real. You may be going through an awkward time right now but don't worry in a couple of years you're going to be a knockout and the guys that wouldn't even give you the time of day in high school are going to be drooling all over you.

When your heart gets broken you'll think its the end of the world but really its not. You're better off without him, without all of them. You were too good for them. Its not vice versa. Never change yourself for anyone.

Always, always, always tell people that you love them while you have the chance, especially Grandpa. I can't stress this enough. Time goes by to fast and you never know what will happen tomorrow.

Smoking is disgusting and drinking everywhere weekend gets you nowhere but out of it. I know you want to fit in and have fun but you don't need to lower your morals for it. People will like you as is and if they don't because of it they were never really your friend to began with.

School is your top priority right now. Don't just do the minimum or slack off. You might think right now that just getting by will get you that diploma but it will also get you thousands of dollars in student debt loans for college. The work is worth the price.

Don't be afraid to take risks. You are a wonderful person but no one can see that unless you see it yourself. When you walk into a room do it with confidence. Smile at everyone you see. Ask out the guy you always thought was out of your league. Experience life. You'll only be this young once; make it unforgettable.

No matter what choices you make I know you will turn out wonderful,

See you in the future,

Jes

I would tell myself:

Do NOT date that tall red headed man, he's trouble!  Stick to your school work and music.