Jff-great Question

Stay "weird" it is what makes you, you!
And don't simply hear adults - listen to them. They aren't as dumb as they appear - LOL!

Leave that guy... bad news!--
Also, start saving $100/month into ANY kind of acct.--set up automatic payment so i don't forget!-- and don't stop doing it!

"You are not invincible and that boy that's about to get you pregnant is gonna leave you." Oh and "Yep, parents are usually right."

You are not fat!

:)

Study more, socialize less, and partake in extracurricular school activities. I didn't get nearly as much out of high school as I could have, and should have.

Dont wish your life away. Enjoy being a kid because being a grown up isn't all its cracked up to be!!

Hmm...
Dear 16 year old self,
Please start learning to to eat healthier and get in the habit of exercising. You have about 4 years left before your metabolism is going to turn on you big time.

Stay away from Michael di Gregorio.

Don't have a boyfriend, have fun instead.

Focus on your grades.

Nothing is permanent.

That it would get better. That I was surviving and that my desperation was a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.

I'd give myself a hug and I'd listen. I'd sit on the bulkhead and stare out at the sound, share a cigarette, listen to the shellfish quiver and I'd say, "You can trust this beauty. Life really is this beautiful, even when it's hard. Trust your deep heart."

I'd share what my life would be like now: filled with love, connection, and meaning. I'd tell myself that I would find what I was looking for. That it wouldn't always feel so agonizing.

I'd tell myself not to give up on myself, that I'm valuable, and that I'm worthy of love. I'd tell myself that hope is not naive, that crying is not weakness, that asking for help is not selfish.

And I'd give myself a spankin' good book list of best I've found yet. ;-)

1. Don't let guys walk all over you. It's going to end up killing your spirit. Surround yourself with the people who will make you feel good about yourself.

2. Go to cosmetology school at graduation, get it over with and don't wait until you're 25 because you're going to start having babies then and you won't get to use your full beauty potential.

3. See that boy across the room in the first row, that's John, talk to him and be nice, he might just be your husband one day when you guys see each other at 25.

4. Spend lots of time with you parents. Respect them and stop lying to them about boys and school. They are going to become the key to your future ahead.

5. I second Theresa's, you're not fat. In fact, you are supper skinny and you won't be for long! Stay active!

You will never get that approval from your father you are after just follow your heart my dear

Stay away from guys named Mike!

Be kinder to those kids sitting alone at lunch. Get to know them-they are far more interesting than that crowd you've been running with. Quit smoking. Hug your best friend and enjoy your time with her. She will be taken far too soon and you will miss her like crazy for the rest of your life . Lastly, buy Apple-seriously, buy Apple!

Quit hanging out with the smokers, they arent cool.

.

College isnt just for the super rich and super brainiacs. Even average poor girls from the north side can go to college if they do the right paperwork. I didn't figure that one out until I was 30 yrs old.

Oh boy, good one. "You don't know everything!" Also: "enjoy your body now" :) I was always so self-conscious and now I look back at pictures and think, I should have worn all the cute, trendy stuff! I wouldn't even wear skirts or shorts because I thought I had ugly legs...

Alcohol consumption is reserved for 21 yr olds for a reason.
You don't HAVE to HAVE a boyfriend.
Start a savings account the minute you get your first job, and dont take any money from it until you are 30 something.

Slow down. Slow down with boys, slow down with parties, slow down with being anxious to get away from your parents, slow down with being anxious to be an adult. Do some volunteer work to see what makes you happy, be very careful picking a college and picking a career. Talk to you parents or use your school counselor to help you, research it on the internet. Think about what your values are and what is important to you. Take time to understand and love yourself.

Dear Self... please enjoy, love and trust your parents. You miss them deaply when they are gone!

i would tell myself not to slack off in school because i would regret it later.

Really take the time to figure out what will make you happy in life. School ends, but your career could potentially last the rest of your life. If you start getting to know yourself early on, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run.

And also: all the stupid high school stuff is just that... stupid high school stuff. In a couple of years, it's not going to matter to anyone. AND 20 years later, I will be one of the few girls in my class who is still skinny. :)

Of course, I'm sure my 16-year-old self would never have believed me.

You don't know everything.... you won't be successful not going to college (learned later when I enrolled in college at 21 with a child to take care of)

Your parents aren't trying to boss you around, they actually know something!

That loser boyfriend of yours will end up breaking your heart and being your ex husband. (but I did get a beautiful boy out of all that!)

Fun question!

Don't go out with that guy!!! Don't go out with that guy!!! Don't go out with that guy!!! LOL, Must admit I was boy crazy in high school and REALLY wish now I would have spent more time thinking about, and working towards my future than who I was going to go out with that weekend.

"Dump the creepy dude and never look back. Your friends won't tell you what they REALLY think of him for a few years, but trust me... it's not nice. Plus, if you dump him, you MIGHT have a shot with the hot guy who plays the guitar."

Oh, if only this could really happen. My mom would have been SO much less stressed. LOL.

To my 16-year-old self,
Listen to you mother and sister! While your high school relationship was not bad, the advice to group date/be single your Senior year was very wise of your mother & sister to suggest!

Get as much college credit you can in high school!

You're beautiful and an eating disorder is EVIL!

Always believe in yourself and never let go of your dreams!

You really have no idea how much your parent's love you :)

Who cared what the other 'cool' girls think. Go to the school things and make lots of freinds, play ball hard, don't be afraid to get hurt and be yourself. Everyone loves her more than you think. :)

Dont do drugs.
Be nice to your dad hes going to die soon.
Thats not the one you are going to marry, dont cry over him.
Pay more attention in school
Shes not your friend.....run.
You are not going to like that piercing!

I would be too afraid of the new and terrible mistakes I would make with the newfound knowledge, or of missing out on some of the most wonderful things ing my life by opening my mouth.

I AM SMART! Don't underestimate my abilities, and don't get married until I have a college degree so I wouldn't be dependent upon a man for my livelihood! At least I told my own daughters these things and they took my advice!

Don't get sidetracked by that loser boyfriend of yours. Dad is actually right on this one, he is so NOT worth your time. In fact, don't date until your in your mid-twenties.

Pursue your hopes & dreams, and believe in yourself - you CAN do it!

Surround yourself with positive, caring, loving people and try to imitate them as much as possible.

This world is full of rude, negative, critical people - don't take it personally!

Watch your back (see above).

Be true to yourself.

Your parents really do love & care for you even though they can be annoying at times.

Enjoy being 16 because before long you'll be weighed down with adult responsibilities :0)

Great question! I would have told myself to not be so hard on myself! To be more accepting and loving of me as a person and not try to be different from the way God made me. I would say that my value was based in how God sees me, not how anyone in my family felt or what their expectations of who I was or who they wanted me to be. That it was ok to be me. Just me. As I am. I spent years of hell figuring out how to squash my true me and now as an adult I have discovered myself again. But I think I may have not had to go through some of the horrible traumatic things if I had that knowledge then.

M

your stronger than you give yourself credit for.

Mom did get one thing right...he's a loser!

Love that you made the right choice between buying a car or going to Europe for the summer...it just might have been your once in a lifetime chance to go and you did! NICE!

Start being more Healthy !!!! Exercise is GOOD for you !!
Being Boy Crazy is Foolish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont have a HS boyfriend, go out with the Girls and Enjoy being young! Dont Get married before 26.
RESPECT YOUR PARENTS.! Respect Yourself!
Talk more and Listen to the stories your grandparents can tell you.

Stay in Electricity Class and Do NOT let the boys do your projects for you- YOUR capable of doing them yourself and Better than the boys, BUT you have to play the "girl part" , YOU STUPID IDIOT!!!! you could have had a Fantastic Career !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Theres more............ LOL

When you meet a boy named Mike Thompson,RUN!

I'd have said the same things my parents were already telling me... and I wouldn't have listened to me either :)

Oh, and stay away from a guy named...

1. Don't bother with accounting at university, it really isn't your forte
2. Do not try to tan, it's never going to happen for you
3. Wear sunscreen every single day
4. Start saving now
5. Lower your expectations of life

The most important thing in your life should be school.