If you could give life advice to a sixteen year old, what would it be?

Question

Adults always say that if they knew what they do now back when they were teenagers, they'd have lived totally different lives. Well here's your chance, tell me before I make the same mistakes! And, please, no "don't try to grow up so fast," or "you're only young once." This could be advice on love, school, friends, family, hobbies, travel, health, or anything!

Answer 1

There is Three

1. Plzzzz finish school
2. Don't do drugs or drink!
3. Never ever drink and drive or get in a car with someone that was drinking!
4. Don't have sex until your with your life partner!

Answer 2

Like yourself: Be true to yourself and don't just follow the crowd. This post shows that you're a thoughtful, maturely minded person, so make the most of your life and don't waste part of it the way I did, doubting that people liked me or that I was worth anything. I am. You are too.

Listen to the advice of people older than you: They've been through it, and learned stuff that you won't have even though of.

Stay in school: education is more valuable than having a good time right now, it will give you the skills to make a great life for yourself in the future. Never stop learning!

Save your money! Plan for the long-term future. One day, you're going to be an old lady. When I was 16 I had $20,000 in the bank. I squandered it, I went overseas, I got a credit card. It's gone. I'm 28 now and I only have $3000 and I want to buy a house now. I can't. It sucks. It's going to take me ages to get there, and I could have had it when I was 22 if I had made better decisions.

Trust the people who love you.

Never be afraid to ask questions!

The most important thing I've learned: to be happy, just BE HAPPY. No matter what, find the good things in life. They're there. Look for them.


I wish you a happy and successful life! :)

Answer 3

LOVE:
You will have your little heart broken, for sure, and it WILL heal. (Faster than you may think!)

SCHOOL:
Take all kinds of courses, even ones you don't think you'll be good at or even like. Your classes are free now, and you may stumble across a subject you end up really liking.

FRIENDS:
They will come and they will go. The coolest people you meet may not necessarily be the most popular ones.

If someone tells you a secret when they are your friend, do NOT betray that person by discussing those secrets (or private discussions) if you break off your friendship later.

FAMILY:
With exception of a parent who is under the influence of alcohol or something, your parents truly do have your best interest at heart. When the ____ hits the fan, these will be the ones you can run to.

HOBBIES:
Try learning to play an instrument. You'll find out more about yourself and what you really like.

TRAVEL:
If you have not traveled/moved very much, you may be surprised at what you encounter later in life. The world isn't just about different colors....it's about different cultures. Read up and travel if you can.

HEALTH:
Use contraception! I don't care what he/she says to you, you have to take care of yourself (and prevent any unwanted pregnancies).

FUTURE:
Figure out what you enjoy doing and try to find a way to get paid to do it for a living. Making lots of money isn't always what life should be about.

BE SMART:
If you don't feel you know enough about a specific topic, how to do something, etc. ASK someone who might know. Like they say, "There's no such thing as a stupid question."

Best of everything!

Answer 4

Best question ever asked!
If I could offer any advice to a 16 year old it would be that you REALLY will live to be past 30 or 50, etc. Everything you have ever thought or done, some adult has already done it or thought of it. We somehow know the consequences.

Never underestimate the value of an education.
Never trust anyone more than you trust your own gut.
Never think that Mr. or Ms. Wonderful is between 18 and 25 years old. I never knew how stupid I was at that time of my life until after l outlived it.
Make your own money/career and never just assume someone else is going to always be there to take care of you.....you only have YOU!
Be a leader, not a follower.
Thats about it.
And good luck.

Answer 5

I say go to college and get a good education. You will need it. Don't do what I did. I was messed up. I went in the military, hitchhiked around the country, and then went to work. The work I did sucked. I am glad I am retired now. I was a coal miner in an underground coal mine. It was very hard work. I do not wish that kind of work on my worse enemies. Also, stay away from the drugs. They are everywhere now. Drugs will really mess you up. Stay away from pedofiles, perverts and physical and emotional abusers. Don't have anything to do with them. The most important thing for a young person is: don't be so trusting to everyone. There are many adults out there waiting for an opportunity. Don't give them that opportunity. Also, I would like to tell you be careful and don't mess around with sex. Stay pure until you find the right man. Actually, that is about it. Please take my advice. You will be so sorry if you don't. One more thing, don't do any hitchhiking, its too dangerous in these days which we live.

Answer 6

Love: If you're like most people, you'll think you've found it at least a few times before you really do. That's OK. Enjoy how it feels. And there will also be people you love who just don't make a good life partner for you. Just don't stay with someone who puts you down or trys to keep you from living your dreams because you love him/her. There will be someone else to love, who will love you back without the pain.

School: If you're good in school, don't forget to have other interests, and always respect the people who aren't. If you're not good in school, do your best, focus on the things you are good at, and always respect the people who are. Don't just study subjects you think will be useful for a career -- pursue as many interests as possible and you'll be surprised where they lead you. The most important part is learning to think critically.

Friends: Be the kind of friend you want to have. As in love, shake loose people who don't love you for who you are.

Family: Love the one you've got. No one's family is perfect. If you haven't suffered from abuse, be thankful. If you have, there's no shame in therapy. And you CAN travel and live far from your family and still be close to them and be there for them.

Travel: Travel as much as you can, especially to other countries. If you aren't rich, find ways to do it cheaply. It is the most enjoyable way to grow as a person that I can think of.

Health: If you don't already have good exercise habits, start them now. It only gets harder. Ditto for quitting / not starting smoking. Everything else -- moderation is the key.

Anything: Figure out what YOUR values are, and live by them. Maybe they'll be the same as your parents, maybe they won't. Question everything.

Answer 7

,Always choose friends with standards, moral character, religion.
School: Do as well as you can. Your grades will follow you all through life. Try and go to college and make something good of yourself, without fail.
Always remain close to family. Your mom and dad are the best friends you will ever have. They see you through good times and bad. They love you like no one else can, because they are your parents and you are a part of them.
Should you want a hobby, boy watching isn't one. hee hee. Think about things you may like to collect, make, write, sculpture, etc.
Travel: Never travel alone. Always stay in the United States. Go travel and visit places of interest with your family or friend. Just be careful. Take a camera or video camera with you. Call home if parents don't go, so they know you are safe.
Love: Be in no hurry to fall in love. You have so much to do before then. You want to be able to stand on your own 2 feet if that should ever come. Be selective in who you choose to marry. Don't settle for less but for better.:
Health: Maintain your heath. As long as you have good health you are doing great. Take vitamins, eat right. Leave alcoholic drinks alone. Always put God first.

Answer 8

I wish I were sixteen and could do it over again, though I wouldn't do much of it differently. We learn most sometimes from our failures and mistakes... but if I were to give some advice to a 16 year old it would be....

Always save at least 10% of all the money you get and invest it.

I opened my first savings account at age 8, started selling comic books and doing odd jobs when I was even younger. I've always cleaned yards etc during weekends and had summer jobs threw high-school. I opened an Individual Retirement Account with my first job out of high school, followed by a 401k, stock, and now art.

You don't need to make a lot of money to get rich you just have to be careful what you do with it. Time and interest compounded will make you reach financial security and allow for a comfortable life later on.

Working my *** off when I was younger has payed off and reinforced that I didn't want to have to do it as an adult as well. To me money is only important because it allows me to have a better quality of life.... I can spend my time doing what I want to do.

Along the way I was able to take some risks in life knowing it would be okay because I always had a safety net beneath me if things didn't work out. One almost put me into bankruptcy but even then I knew my retirement was taken care of as long as I didn't dip into it. Today I no longer have to worry about money.

Find someone who is successful in the way you want to be successful and use them as role model. Find some mentors to help you each step of the way. Do as they do and you'll get their results.

Your have to decide what you want in life, realistically evaluate what it will take to get there then do the work. Even if its a daunting, any goal can be broken down into do-able smaller tasks. Never lose focus of what you want in life and don't settle for anything less.

Best wishes.

Answer 9

Love: don't start having sex yet (if you already have, stop!) I started at a really young age and completely regret it now. It didn't make me any more popular, it ruined my self esteem and it endangered my health in SO many ways!

Friends: Make as many as you can from as many different life styles and backgrounds as possible. It will make you appreciate what you do have and teach what kind of person you want to be as you get older.

Volunteer/get involved in your community. Not only will it make you feel good about yourself, it will teach you tons.

Do your best in school, you'd be surprised how much you do end up using that stuff later in life. Also, most high schools allow people to take college level (or actual college) classes for a lot less money than when you are actually in college, this will help you out in life, even if you choose not to go to college later.

Answer 10

Well, no i'm not sixteen, but thirteen is close enough to give advice. All I can say is stay away from drugs, achohol, and sex. My freindsmother was a drugie and a prostitute as a teenager. If you take the time to read the story below, you will relise why prostitution is bad.......

I have never been a prostitute, but my best freinds mother used to be. I think that there is different reasons for diferent women, but I will tell you why my freinds mother did.......As told to her best freind.......

My freinds mother was abused as a child. She was constenly sexualy molested by her grandfather. Her mother walked out on them when she was a little girl so she lived in a house with her granfather, uncle, aunt, and father. When she was in High school, 12th grade, she was invited to a party and was excited to go. She was getting ready to walk down a dark street and she was held down by three men and she was then raped numeras times. (To this day, they still haven't cought the people who raped her.) She lived in New York, so she then went to a local club. There was some dealers outside, and she said she wanted to start. Over an amount of years, she beacame a prostitute. She was having sex with 3-5 guys a day. Her "pimp", Tim, was like a father to her. He let her stay with him, paid for her food, and also hired her guys. When she was about 23, she was constenetly raped by an 60-year-old man. She then called Tim, and he didn't care. He then called her family, and her family came and got her. When they got her home, she was agian raped more and more. Nine months later, she had my best freind......After she gave birth, she tried to quit being a prostitute and aftyer Tim got the news, he tracked her down with six other men and they each raped her, and then Tim and his "buddies" cut up her face and then stabbed her heart 15 times(As from the confesion of Tim.)

My best freind now lives with her adopted parents. She has had a great life, and knows all about her mother.....She never knew her mother, and as she told me, shes glad that she didn't. She lives with two wonderful parents........If there are any yound ladies that have ever thought about prostitution, consider this story while making the final decision.......

After reading this story, I hope I have helped you to give good advice to a sixteen year old...........

Answer 11

Sure I can tell you what will make you successful in life . Make sure you take your education seriously and get a good college education, when you are choosing someone to date treat them the way you would like to be treated , when choosing a life partner take your time to get to know them and love them with all your heart , put their needs before your own and listen to their needs . Compromise and give a little to get a little . Live love and enjoy life along the way but do it in a way that is a positive not a negative influence on those around you and those that you love .
When you start working save 15% of all that you earn and invest it so when you are old you will have the money you need to retire in comfort . Deversifie you investments in stocks bonds money market and a lifetime annuity so you will always have income . Save 6 mounths salery and put it where you can get it if you are unemployed and need the money to live . Take out a seperate Life insurance policy from the the policy given to you by your employer and make sure it is whole life so it will build equity , make sure it is at least 4 times your salary . When you build enough equity you can use it to borrow aginst to buy a car or a loan for anything you need at a much better intrest rate than any bank . Don't have or use credit cards to buy things that you can afford to pay cash for , use them only for an emergency and only if you can pay off the balance in 3 mounths .Always give back to your community and your church and give of your time as well as your money . Keep your good friends close all your life and never lose touch or give up your friends for your love intrest , you can have both as long as you make it clear in the beginning . Never compermise you morals or change who you are or what you stand for for anyoone . Stand by your family and love your parents , give them help when they need it and honor them all their lives . Love your children with all your heart and teach them all that you have learned . No matter what they do or how they turn out in life they are still your children and always give them your best advice and unconditionail love and support in all they do in life .