‍What would you tell your teenage self?‍

As a teenager, life goes by so quickly. I would encourage myself to step out of my shell. I spent too much time hiding in a shell as a teenager. I missed many exciting and interesting things in my life as a teenager, Such as traveling! Travel and see the world. Look at all the natural beauty and the different types of people. Do not be afraid to talk with new people! Learn about their heritage and how to communicate effectively. I stayed too many times in my shell for fear of the unknown. I would try to make new friends! The same friends are great but think outside your circle! Try new things. I would also tell myself not to be afraid of success! Success can give you the feeling of great pride. I was not encouraged to expand and succeed! I would tell my teenage self, go to college earlier. Do not wait until you have a family and already working a job! That was a killer! Reach outside yourself as a teenager and explore! See what life and bring to your table. I would tell myself, after high school, everything you did in school will be different. The quarterback of the football team is a person! The transition from being someone in school does not matter. When you look back on your life, you will see the difference. The folks who made an impact on your life then will still be there. However, the other folks have changed. What was important in school does not matter in the real world. The real world is paying bills, changing diapers, and taking care of a family. You will learn what it is to work for yourself and nurture the family you have created. As a teenager, look before you leap and leap in the right direction. Be the person you want to be, not someone else's idea of who you should be!