7 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Self

All I needed to know I could of learned from Star Wars

In less than two weeks I will be celebrating another birthday. I love birthdays despite the fact that I was a Summer baby and could never have the school parties like other kids. Oh well, I have made up for it plenty.

As per usual, it is time for me to conduct my Exit Interview and I read a Twitter post
“7 things I’d tell my teenage self about life, work, and writing” by Belinda Thompson and I was inspired to answer that question for myself.

Here are the 7 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Self

1. Stop worrying about what these high school losers think about you, you will never speak to them again.
This is true. I speak to no one from high school and upon graduation I knew I wouldn’t. I am one to forgive and forget. Once you have done something to wound me, I forgive then I forget you.

2. Next time Study Spanish. Who cares you can read in French?
I grew up in a Spanish speaking household. When I went to high school, I wanted to be different and I studied French. My parents were outraged. To this day my Spanish is mediocre at best and I have occasion to use it more often. That said, I can read Le Monde, which serves me not in NYC. Oh, teenage rebellion always bites you in the ass.

3. You are a gifted athlete, get off your depressed teenage ass. Be nicer to yourself.
I was never encouraged to be athletic. Let me go one step further, I was mocked. Instead, I sharpened my wit. I wish I had known I could have used both. I would have gone to college more focused and studied physiology.

4. Go to a mid-size college, you can’t move from a big city to a farm town without culture shock.
Never one to plan, I decided to apply to college in MARCH of my Senior Year. I was accepted at a small school in Maryland. I loved it but there were only 990 students, 23 minority students, 5 International students, living on 128 acres with a golf course. It was preppy Green Acres. I transferred out and the end was near. I soon met the Death Star. That is a story for another time.

5. In 20 years, you and your brother won’t get along much better, you’ll just both be older.
My brother and I love one another and have never gotten along. I think he resents how much wiser I am. I resent his inability to accept how much wiser I am. “Remember to use the force.”

6. Tell your parents how grateful you are for their sacrifices every day.
Every teenager, with the exception of perhaps Dakota Fanning, thinks Life is all about them all the time. I was no exception. I was wrong, plain and simple. I never saw my parents’ sacrifices because I only saw what they didn’t give me. Sigh… now they are welcome to every dollar in my pocket, if they need it, and the pants too. Let’s hope they don’t ask for it though.

7. Let your freak flag fly. You will never be a corporate guy.
Stop trying to bang the circle into the square. I have always worked for myself. I detailed here my many, many, many jobs. I was born a non-conformist and have really wounded myself trying to fit in and blend with people who were NEVER gonna love me for myself anyway. I’m a free bird. I’m Han Solo.

What would you say to your younger self?