Teens: What You Should Know

This is a bit cynical (from Lucid Cafe), but it's good advice. More comments below.

What You Should Know

A short list of what every kid should know
about what life is REALLY like . . .

1. Life is NOT fair, get used to it.


2. The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.


3. You will NOT make $50,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a fancy car until you earn both.


4. If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.


5. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger-flipping; they called it opportunity.


6. If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.


7. Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes, and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try "delousing" the closet in your own room.


8. Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.


9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.


10. Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.


11. Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.


12. Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

These things are all true. But there are a few other things you should know (Life according to WH), most of these I have learned the hard way:

1. Never give up on yourself -- you can accomplish almost anything if you are willing to work hard for it.

2. The more you follow your own inner wisdom, the harder life will be -- but it's worth it.

3. Never work for someone who treats you or other people badly -- life is too short.

4. Education does not stop when you leave school -- Read! Listen! Look! Learn!

5. Sometimes we need a guide in life -- do not be afraid to see a therapist, a clergy member, or an elder.

6. When you screw up, learn from it so you don't do it again.

7. When life disappoints you -- and it will -- don't give up.

8. When something or someone hurts you, stay with your feelings -- NEVER ignore your feelings.

9. Always show the people you love that you love them -- you'll never regret it.

10. Lastly: Every day try to do something that makes you happy, or those around you happy.

Tags: What You Should Know, life, personal growth, lessons, real world