Advice From My High School Diary That Is Still Relevant In My Twenties

Hi friends! In today’s post, I’ll be sharing some advice from my high school diary that is still relevant in my twenties. It was fun to read my diaries from high school. Remembering all the drama, my crushes, how much I struggled to get good grades, and the relationship with my friends had me laughing for a few days.

Seriously, I was such a dramatic teenager. I’m so happy those years are behind! Besides that, I also gave pretty good advice to myself and my friends. Some of the things I wrote back in the day (between 2008 and 2011) are actually things I needed to hear now.

Melissa from the past was obsessed with vampires and love stories, she couldn’t wait to have a boyfriend (like Edward Cullen), and wanted to travel the world. I’m not dating a vampire, but I’m so happy I found a person that loves me with all my weird quirks.

[title align=”center” type=”line”]Advice From My High School Diary[/title]

1. “LIFE WON’T ALWAYS BE A BED OF ROSES“

We have to embrace life with the ups and downs. Yes, feeling sad and deal with problems is the worst, but those bad situations can teach us many things. Even though we try our hardest to avoid them, they happen because it’s part of life. The important thing is to have a good attitude about them.

Just remember that those bad experiences are part of your life for a reason. You need to learn from them. Some problems take longer to fix than others, and it’s true that it can be hard to have a good attitude at first; but once you collect yourself, you need to try again.

• Related: Why TYou Should Always Look On The Bright Side

2. “WORK HARD TO SEE RESULTS“

This was me reminding myself to study so I could get better grades, but no matter what you want to achieve in your life this is the attitude you need in life. It can be a personal or fitness goal. If you work hard, you will see the results.

3. “JUST BECAUSE I DON’T DRINK OR SMOKE, DOESN’T MAKE ME LESS OF AN ADULT“

Smoking and drinking was a big part of my high school parties, and I just didn’t feel like doing it. Some classmates would call me childish because I didn’t want to get drunk. I don’t smoke and I’m not a big drinker. I love a good glass of wine and a piña colada is my go-to drink when I go out.

You don’t need to get drunk to make friends or to have more fun. Not drinking doesn’t make you lame either. Let’s just respect other people’s choices. That shouldn’t be hard. Getting shamed for not drinking is so stupid!

When you are young is easy to be influenced by others, so you end up doing something you didn’t want to. The sad part is that this doesn’t only happen when you are a teenager. I have seen adults giving up their beliefs because they wanted to fit or just didn’t want to be called boring. So important to not pressure other’s to do something they don’t want to!

4. “I DON’T NEED SOMEONE TO BE HAPPY”

Yes, your best friend, family or partner can make you happy; but we shouldn’t base our happiness in people. That can ruin so make good things. You need to count on yourself to be happy. Don’t leave your smile in their hands. Avoid yourself bitter moments and learn how to be happy with yourself.

I struggle a lot with that in high school, and I learned the hard way that what I was doing was wrong. Look for happiness within you, not those around you. So it’s important to learn how to love ourselves and to get comfortable being on our own.

5. “I DON’T NEED TO SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT MAN. IT WILL COME EVENTUALLY WHEN THE MOMENT IS RIGHT”

Oh man, I was reading so many romance books that I was obsessed with trying to have a boyfriend (more like with the idea of love). In my head, I wanted something similar to Edward Cullen (please don’t laugh at me). Back then I didn’t understand that you don’t force love. It just happens. It took me long to realize that, and just like the theory, love knocked at my door the moment I least expected.

6. “IF IT DOESN’T WORK OUT, IT’S OKAY. I WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT”

On my senior year, I was stress out with college applications and getting good grades. I know I was far from my dream school but I was still positive things would be fine. I knew I was going to find another way to solve the problem, and I did.

Things might not go the way we planned it but that doesn’t mean we won’t reach our final goal. It might take longer to achieve and we might need to take another route. The important thing is not giving up and keep a positive attitude. That, in the end, was what helped me the most.

7. “IT’S IMPORTANT TO CRY. I ALWAYS FEEL BETTER AFTER THAT”

Guys, seriously. I have met so many people that have told me they avoid crying and I just think it’s unhealthy. We have tears for a reason! Crying has benefits. That’s real! A 2014 study found that crying may have a direct, self-soothing effect on people. The study explained how crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which helps people relax.

Don’t hide your emotions. It’s okay to cry. You aren’t weak for doing it. It’s part of being human.

8. “MAYBE THEY DON’T WANT TO TALK TO ME BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE ME, AND THAT’S FINE. I DON’T HAVE TO BE LIKED BY EVERYONE”

Anxiety hits me hard after I met someone new. So I always need to remind myself this. Since I was little I wanted to be liked by everyone. When I was in fourth grade I was voted the “nicest classmate” and it made me so happy. I just wanted to be friends with everyone.

When we got older and we started to have different personalities, I felt left behind because I didn’t like the same things as my classmates. Especially as a teenager. I didn’t like the same music or the same shows everyone would talk about. That hit me hard, but with time I learned how to love myself. This last part is key!

9. “I JUST NEED TO WALK WITH MY HEAD UP AND A SMILE ON MY FACE. I’M SMART AND NO ONE WILL MAKE ME FEEL LESS”

We all have haters. Someone will always say something bad behind our backs. It just happens, and let’s be honest, we have done that at least once in our lives. It’s part of human behavior. The point here is that we should be proud of our decisions and we shouldn’t let others decide what we want to do.

If someone doesn’t agree with what you do, it’s their problem. You will show them how it’s done!

10. “THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON AND I DON’T NEED TO BE UPSET IF IT DOESN’T WORK OUT”

This is my motto. Over the years, I have learned how to let things go when they don’t go my way. It can be very upsetting when you work very hard to achieve something and in the end, it doesn’t work out. My biggest example is the way I met my boyfriend.

When I was in college I wanted to study abroad. I applied to some colleges, but when I didn’t get answers from them, my advisor told me to apply to a school it wasn’t on my list. The next day I was accepted. If I had gone to a different school, I wouldn’t have met him.

11. “EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE”

Obviously, there are so no-no times when you should give a second chance (like an abusive boyfriend). My point here is that we as humans make mistakes that at the moment we don’t realize how bad they are. After apologizing and a good conversation we should try again to be part of that person’s life.

My best friend in freshmen year started to change a lot. She did a few things that hurt me. We had strained relations for almost a year, but in the end, we talk about our feelings and what she was dealing with at the moment. This is also a reminder that everyone goes through hard times and we need to learn how to forgive.

12. “I SHOULDN’T BE SCARED TO BE MYSELF. SOMEONE WILL LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM”

I’m so happy to say that found that person. It took time, but there’s nothing better than being with someone that truly loves you for who you are. My boyfriend is also my best friend. I can be myself in front of him. I can sing all the songs I love without feeling judged. I can unleash my weird side and I don’t care what he thinks. I just know he loves me and he loves seeing me happy. It’s the best feeling in the world.

If you are looking for that person… is out there. I promise you!

What are some of the things you have learned in high school and are still relevant in your twenties? Let me know in the comments!

Sincerely, Melissa

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