Advice to give to the younger members of society. The under 21s

[happyninja42]

-This will obviously not be for everyone, but seriously consider the Military. You'll get in shape, learn discipline, you'll have several years of guaranteed healthcare, meals, a job, and a roof over your head (in which time you can think hard about what you want to do for a living) and you'll get to meet and interact with people from tons of different backgrounds. Yes, it sucks ass at times, but I definitely don't regret my time in. Likewise, Post 9/11 GI bill will help with College or school afterwards.

An addition to this bit, as I work with the VA:
If you do join the Military, go on fucking sick call when you are hurt/sick. Seriously, don't "suck it up" and "walk it off", and don't worry about "being a pussy". Go on fucking sick call. You might be pressured to not do it, but if you don't, you are shooting yourself in the foot later when you try and apply for any disability benefits. I've lost count of the number of veterans who come into my office, to apply for disability, but there is no record of the injury incident in their service medical records. And then they are shocked shocked I say when the VA doesn't just take them at their word, that the injury is service related.

 

[Odbarc]

"Everything you know, love and understand has very little value of the rest of the world."

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Think for yourself.

Be active.

Learn skills.

Use protection.

Drink gin.

Enjoy yourself.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Life is what you make of it, it doesn't make itself. Imagine what you want to be like, who you respect and would like to be if you could be anything. Then work to become that, what matters most is what you think of yourself in the end. If you think it is shitty when you see someone else do something, don't do it yourself, try to live without regrets, and don't " wait " for things to happen, make good things happen. Learn from both your own and others mistakes, and do not think it won't happen to you. Everyone who has bad things happen thinks it wont happen to them.

ALSO don't be a Dumbass and fry your brain, do stupid shit while driving, or behave recklessly that can fuck up the rest of your life. You need your brain and body to be in tact when you finally get past the " I want to be stupid and reckless stage" to be able to use it, and so many do not make it that far because they Fry their brains with chemicals, ruin their bodies with stupidity and destroy their chances of ever succeeding before they ever get a chance to get started. Don't be a drunk driver, a junkie or headstone simply because you were too weak to not be. Find strength and avoid the mistakes that have already been made by many.

 

[NPC009]

-You can eat whatever crap you want and not gain any weight, you say? Well, you're body won't be able to keep that up. Somewhere in your twenties, you will start feeling and seeing the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. Get into some healthy habits while you're young. It'll make it a lot easier to stick with them as you get older.

-Don't worry about labels so much. The world is complex and few things fit neatly into little labeled boxes. Don't let one word define you and don't look at others as if they're just one word.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Have a shitload of fun and make (or kill with alcohol) memories. Honestly, if you don't get hammered and do a whole bunch of stuff you regret, you weren't a real teenager.

Lots of people are keen to point out that you shouldn't be too melodramatic and nothing that happens is all that serious- they're right, technically, but they're also a bit dull. Don't take it too seriously, but doing all the stupid stuff is what being a teenager is all about- think of it as a 'what not to do' for the rest of your life. Also it's kinda fun pretending you're in an episode of Skins. This includes stupid fashion choices (your future kids need to see the photos).

Honestly, I do talk to people who always wore sensible clothes, never drank too much and were probably virgins until at least 19. I guess there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I do just wonder why the hell these people decided to spend the most carefree years of their life acting like they're thirty-fucking-five.

 

[Fappy]

Don't let Ronda Rousey trap you in a dark alley. Or even a brightly lit one.

But what if she was in a whirlpool? Like, if you had to choose between saving her or saving someone who friendzoned you, who would you save?

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Have a shitload of fun and make (or kill with alcohol) memories. Honestly, if you don't get hammered and do a whole bunch of stuff you regret, you weren't a real teenager.

Lots of people are keen to point out that you shouldn't be too melodramatic and nothing that happens is all that serious- they're right, technically, but they're also a bit dull. Don't take it too seriously, but doing all the stupid stuff is what being a teenager is all about- think of it as a 'what not to do' for the rest of your life. Also it's kinda fun pretending you're in an episode of Skins. This includes stupid fashion choices (your future kids need to see the photos).

Honestly, I do talk to people who always wore sensible clothes, never drank too much and were probably virgins until at least 19. I guess there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I do just wonder why the hell these people decided to spend the most carefree years of their life acting like they're thirty-fucking-five.

Probably due to shit like having a close group of 12 friends growing up, 7 of them didn't make it to 25. James was killed by driving stoned and hitting a guard rail, Tammi was killed by a drunk driver, Matt was killed while stoned crossing the street and getting hit by a van, Peter and David shot themselves, Bryan was shot by a gang, Cassie died of a drug Overdose... That was just out of my close group of friends, many more kids I went to school with died as well before reaching 25. It would be better if people were able to learn more from others mistakes rather than having to get killed trying to find out for themselves.

 

[PainInTheAssInternet]

My biggest regret is playing it safe. It's just not an interesting life. Go out and fuck up, you'll be a better person for it, be able to handle more adversity and you'll have a better grand story to tell.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Have a shitload of fun and make (or kill with alcohol) memories. Honestly, if you don't get hammered and do a whole bunch of stuff you regret, you weren't a real teenager.

Lots of people are keen to point out that you shouldn't be too melodramatic and nothing that happens is all that serious- they're right, technically, but they're also a bit dull. Don't take it too seriously, but doing all the stupid stuff is what being a teenager is all about- think of it as a 'what not to do' for the rest of your life. Also it's kinda fun pretending you're in an episode of Skins. This includes stupid fashion choices (your future kids need to see the photos).

Honestly, I do talk to people who always wore sensible clothes, never drank too much and were probably virgins until at least 19. I guess there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I do just wonder why the hell these people decided to spend the most carefree years of their life acting like they're thirty-fucking-five.

Probably due to shit like having a close group of 12 friends growing up, 7 of them didn't make it to 25. James was killed by driving stoned and hitting a guard rail, Tammi was killed by a drunk driver, Matt was killed while stoned crossing the street and getting hit by a van, Peter and David shot themselves, Bryan was shot by a gang, Cassie died of a drug Overdose... That was just out of my close group of friends, many more kids I went to school with died as well before reaching 25. It would be better if people were able to learn more from others mistakes rather than having to get killed trying to find out for themselves.

...Not to be insensitive, but I'm not sure I should have to specify that my idea of doing regrettable things involves still being alive afterwards to regret them. I'm not suggesting that gangland warfare is a fun pastime for teens.

 

[Lil devils x_v1legacy]

Have a shitload of fun and make (or kill with alcohol) memories. Honestly, if you don't get hammered and do a whole bunch of stuff you regret, you weren't a real teenager.

Lots of people are keen to point out that you shouldn't be too melodramatic and nothing that happens is all that serious- they're right, technically, but they're also a bit dull. Don't take it too seriously, but doing all the stupid stuff is what being a teenager is all about- think of it as a 'what not to do' for the rest of your life. Also it's kinda fun pretending you're in an episode of Skins. This includes stupid fashion choices (your future kids need to see the photos).

Honestly, I do talk to people who always wore sensible clothes, never drank too much and were probably virgins until at least 19. I guess there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I do just wonder why the hell these people decided to spend the most carefree years of their life acting like they're thirty-fucking-five.

Probably due to shit like having a close group of 12 friends growing up, 7 of them didn't make it to 25. James was killed by driving stoned and hitting a guard rail, Tammi was killed by a drunk driver, Matt was killed while stoned crossing the street and getting hit by a van, Peter and David shot themselves, Bryan was shot by a gang, Cassie died of a drug Overdose... That was just out of my close group of friends, many more kids I went to school with died as well before reaching 25. It would be better if people were able to learn more from others mistakes rather than having to get killed trying to find out for themselves.

...Not to be insensitive, but I'm not sure I should have to specify that my idea of doing regrettable things involves still being alive afterwards to regret them. I'm not suggesting that gangland warfare is a fun pastime for teens.

Who was involved in gangland warfare? My friend shot by a gang was shot leaving work due to a gang initiation shooting. AT work, he asked a guy to leave the restaurant because he was threatening people and being verbally abusive. He was just doing his job. That guy he asked to leave was in a gang, and had new recruits that needed a target, when Bryan left work, they followed him and shot his car over 200 times on hwy 635.

Though often regrettable things such as drinking, getting stoned, partying and living the not care life is what actually gets people killed..Matt was just too stoned to notice the van coming when he was walking across the street...

Most people that have these things happen to them do not think these things could happen to them.

 

[Parasondox]

Stay away from gossip. Actually, this applies to everyone. Gossip creates lies. Alters the truth and make someone's life miserable and I see it a lot in the work place and I know its common in schools.

Also,

If you don't your personal business (personal life), being spoken about, don't broadcast it on social media. Yes you can be open, but if you are too open, some people will often try to use that against you and manipulate things. Especially in any working environment, you are often in competition with your work colleagues and will anything to stab you in the back to gain the upper hand and your personal business will be their first target.

We are allowed privacy in the world, people.

 

[BodomBeachChild]

Most people you meet in life suck. You'll find most people will only help if they seek to benefit from it. Friends will be further and fewer than before, but most people really aren't worth trying to be friends with.

Don't listen to people telling you what is good for your life. For years I let people talk me into doing things they thought would be in my best interest and convinced me, from when I was young, to take certain paths in life. I hate every college and career decision I made because I did it to appease people and not myself. As selfish as it is, you're always number one and fuck everyone else. You'll find, throughout time, who your true friends and family are and they'll be worth a damn.

Learn an instrument, learn to do art, take shitty jobs that make you happy. Do the shit you wanna do. Even if it makes others unhappy or look at you different.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Have a shitload of fun and make (or kill with alcohol) memories. Honestly, if you don't get hammered and do a whole bunch of stuff you regret, you weren't a real teenager.

Lots of people are keen to point out that you shouldn't be too melodramatic and nothing that happens is all that serious- they're right, technically, but they're also a bit dull. Don't take it too seriously, but doing all the stupid stuff is what being a teenager is all about- think of it as a 'what not to do' for the rest of your life. Also it's kinda fun pretending you're in an episode of Skins. This includes stupid fashion choices (your future kids need to see the photos).

Honestly, I do talk to people who always wore sensible clothes, never drank too much and were probably virgins until at least 19. I guess there's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I do just wonder why the hell these people decided to spend the most carefree years of their life acting like they're thirty-fucking-five.

Probably due to shit like having a close group of 12 friends growing up, 7 of them didn't make it to 25. James was killed by driving stoned and hitting a guard rail, Tammi was killed by a drunk driver, Matt was killed while stoned crossing the street and getting hit by a van, Peter and David shot themselves, Bryan was shot by a gang, Cassie died of a drug Overdose... That was just out of my close group of friends, many more kids I went to school with died as well before reaching 25. It would be better if people were able to learn more from others mistakes rather than having to get killed trying to find out for themselves.

...Not to be insensitive, but I'm not sure I should have to specify that my idea of doing regrettable things involves still being alive afterwards to regret them. I'm not suggesting that gangland warfare is a fun pastime for teens.

Who was involved in gangland warfare? My friend shot by a gang was shot leaving work due to a gang initiation shooting. AT work, he asked a guy to leave the restaurant because he was threatening people and being verbally abusive. He was just doing his job. That guy he asked to leave was in a gang, and had new recruits that needed a target, when Bryan left work, they followed him and shot his car over 200 times on hwy 635.

Well, fair enough.

In that case though, why bring it up? It's irrelevant to the subject.

 

[TravelerSF]

Life is rarely a straight line. The school-career-retirement path is the best case scenario, not something you should feel obliged to achieve. You might fall on hard times, you might fail big time and have pay things back, you might have to take a few steps back and think about things again, but that's okay. You can use that; you can become wiser, more appreciative of things and more patient. Don't measure your success only by the things you have around you, but inside you as well.

As a wise man once said: http://i.imgur.com/63ygx4q.png

 

[lechat]

Learn to play an instrument, or draw, or something artistic.

When I was young, people told me to do something like this, and I just laughed. I thought it was stupid an unnecessary. Now, I'm almost 29, and I have 0 artistic ability. Can't draw, can't play, can't sing, can't dance. And it sucks. Now I have all these friends who can do neat things, and I look at youtube and the internet in general and see all this cool stuff I have no hope of matching. It's depressing.

So put a bit of time into it. Whether it be a guitar, or cello, or doodling anime characters.

Well it's never too late for that stuff. I recently started to teach my girlfriend how to draw (she's in her mid 20's) and she's started to take painting classes on the weekend. It's only been a couple weeks and probably like 16 hours of total practice but she can now create something that genuinely resembles a happy little tree. I don't doubt that if she keeps at it in a few months people will be shocked that she started only a few months ago. Best advice I can give on that is to take inspiration from your environment and practice in small, frequent increments.

On that note it is never too late.
I spent the first 10 years of adulthood thinking I was too old to do something and every year wishing I had done it the year before.
If you want to do something do it now while you can

 

[chadachada123]

For the love of god, if someone important in your life fucking dies, just take the next semester off, particularly if it's your first semester at college.

I really wish that I knew that was an option, rather than trying and failing in a foreign environment far from home. I'm 24 now and still trying to recollect my shit from my first semester.

 

[sonicneedslovetoo]

Being too proud to flip burgers for a job is a bad thing, you have to start somewhere you just don't have to stay there.

Hoard references for jobs like your life depends on it.

Try and learn how to budget stuff like food while you're still living with your parents so you know how to budget for important things like food before you absolutely have to.

Become aware of what you can buy generic over name brand.

Never buy generic cheeze-its its not worth it.

Nothing you do the first time is going to be good, I don't care if its writing, art, programming, taking a shit, being good takes effort. If you want to be good at something you have to power through the parts where you aren't good at it, use your improvements to motivate yourself.