The only picture I have of the three of us :)
Say "no" more than you say "yes." You don't need one more beer. You don't even like him that much. You have nothing to prove. Go home before you get kicked out. It's ok if nobody remembers your name.
Find something you like. Then work for it. Study without being told. Spend Saturday nights and Sunday mornings with your passion. Believe it or not; friends can wait, family can wait, everything can wait because time invested in yourself is infinitively more valuable than time invested in someone else. The people who care about you know this and respect it.
Quit. Be a quitter. You don't like tennis? Quit playing. Marine biology was a terrible major? Quit school. Your best friend is being a dick. Quit her. There will never be a valid reason why 'sticking it out' is better than finding something else that actually makes you happy. Quit everything! You're worthless if you half-ass your way through life.
Work everywhere. The gas station. Fast food. On a farm. Be a construction worker! Make yourself uncomfortable, it's not forever, it's for a paycheck and you'll thank me later for having a completely strange life experience. It's ok to leave before you get cozy but don't let the opportunity pass you by. NEVER let an opportunity pass and ALWAYS give your two weeks.
Show humility. Your parents may think you're a genius. You may think you're a genius. Hell, you may just be a genius! But the reality is, the world perceives you as a moron. Let them think you're a moron and prove them wrong with your actions. You will never be able to talk yourself onto a pedestal so let the judges in your life carry you to the throne. And once you sit on the red velvet do not look down your nose and do not adopt an attitude. You got to the top by practicing humility and you stay there by showing poise.
Love a boy. And then hate him when it's over. Put everything you have into a relationship; at first it'll be every bit of love and loyalty and passion that you can muster then it'll be anger and pain and distrust. Love so hard that you lose your appetite, food and water is secondary to the way you feel. Then cry until your eyes won't make tears anymore. Cry until you think you may die. But guess what? You won't.
Don't give in. You move out in a fury? Don't come crawling back. You break up with the cheating prick? Don't drunk dial him. You stand up to your chauvinistic boss and he fires you? Don't apologize. This is strength of character.
Have a 'type.' Every sex starved boy who shows you attention is not your type. Determine what you deem is acceptable (physically, mentally and emotionally) and stick to your guns. Make a list! Write it down and keep it in your wallet! If it's concrete then you can't make excuses for yourself later. If a red flag even catches the faintest breeze, back down. He's cute but he's dumb. He's smart but he doesn't listen to you. He's emotional but he's an ogre. Don't worry, someone will want the poor fool, it doesn't have to be you.
Love yourself. So cliché but here's a twist; don't love yourself too much. You have to change to improve. You have to love yourself to succeed. Find common ground. You know you have the potential to be the perfect human being, so work towards it. Don't forget where you came from but always move faster in drive than you do in reverse. You're perfect today and you're perfect in 20 years but you will most definitely not be the same person. You are the only one who has the final say as to whether or not you are acceptable, and you know what? You are. But you can be better. Always.
Sister...
I love you.
