I was going through my journal from Link Year this week, and I came across an old "Hot Seat" session. Hot Seat is where we sit down with out guest speaker, and are able to ask them literally anything we want! One question that almost always got asked was "What would you tell your 18 year old self?" I was always so intrigued with their answers. I sat on my floor reading different speakers answers, and it got me thinking...what would I tell myself? Since I am still super young, and 18 years old doesn't seem that long ago, I am going to answer with what I would tell my High School Freshman self.
1. Don't wish your life away
Your life goes as fast as it can, don't try and make it go faster. Instead, enjoy everything around you here, now. I know you want to rush off and make it out of high school, but there is a reason you are this age, and you can do so many things now. When you are older, other struggles creep in, life becomes more real, and it's amazing, BUT you have so much freedom in being young and you need to enjoy that. Focus on the now and don't think too much on what the "future" is going to look like.
2. Don't care about what others think of you
For real - don't. God made you the way you were supposed to be, and He says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made," so how can you hate on yourself? I know it is easy to compare yourself to others, and everything in high school seems so huge in how others think of you. But honestly, once you are out of high school, these big things, like Prom King, or being friends with the "popular" crowd, become small things. You just do you, and let others do them. If you want to dance down the hallways, by all means, dance! If you want to color your hair some crazy color, go do it! Who cares what others think. Besides, everyone is already too busy caring about what others think of THEM, to form an opinion about you.
3. Love others, love everyone
I know that there are people in your life that you don't necessarily want to become best friends with. THAT IS OKAY! Really, you don't have to become pals with everyone, sometimes we just don't get along with people as well as others. It's natural. But, we do have to love everyone, and love everyone well. Luke 6:35 says "Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend with them to them without expecting anything back." We are called to love, even those that are rude or harsh to us. I know that it seems hard, because you have been hurt. People are selfish and don't have your best intentions at heart, but maybe, just maybe, by you expressing love to them, God can use you in planting a seed in them. It takes a very strong person to love, so pray for strength and pray for love and patients with others because that is truly who God is calling you to be.
Overall, learn to love yourself, learn who God has designed you to be, and learn to love others in a way that God loved us. High School is a great time, as well as any time that you have. Truly embrace the season you are in, if that is college, high school, or your a mother. God has placed you right here, right now and you can maximize your full potential where you are!