30 Grownups Share Advice They Believe Every Teen Should Know
Teenage years are hard, and every bit of advice could help. But will the teenagers listen? Did we?
Some advice hits harder when you hear it early, especially when it comes from people who have already made the mistakes. That is the idea behind this Reddit thread, where one user asked grownups to share the things every teen should know.
The responses range from practical to painfully honest, and a few of them feel just as relevant for adults as they do for teenagers. From relationships and school to self-respect and money, the thread turns into a fast reminder of how much people wish they had learned sooner.
Some of these comments are blunt, some are reassuring, and a few might stick with you longer than expected.
1.
Apologizing is a sign of strength, not weakness. We all screw up, and when you own up to it, you grow from it.
2.
Learn to trust your gut when in strange situations. If something feels off or wrong, it probably is.
Don't go along with something if it feels wrong.
That one comes up a lot in this thread.
It's ok to say no to anyone. Don't let anyone in your life guilt trip you into doing something you don't want to do or are uncomfortable with
When asked what inspired him to create this thread, NotViperX said:
"I was thinking about a question that would be helpful and entertaining at once. When I came up with this one, I just posted, never expecting it to get so much attention! I posted it because I was interested in people's opinions and advice from all over the world."
The Redditor also shared advice for teens regarding health - it's essential to keep an eye on what they eat.
"The teenage body needs lots of minerals and vitamins to stay healthy and develop the body! And afterward, always brush your teeth! You will thank yourself later."
4.
"I’ve said this before but it’s important. When someone says you can’t do something in life, it means they can’t do it, not that you can’t."
throbbingliberal
Glasgow Rocks Wheelchair Basketbal
5.
If you are assaulted on campus, notify the police, not campus security.
Teenagers sometimes don’t follow advice, even if it is good. Many factors can get in their way, from fear and hormones to feeling rebellious and “weak” if they do what adults say. Luckily, there are some ways to overcome these obstacles, teens can absorb knowledge without feeling compelled.
Asking a mentor-figure or a friend to talk to your teen kids about important things and decisions might be an excellent way to bypass their natural defensive and rebellious instincts. The more teenagers trust this person, the more they will be likely to listen and consider the advice.
6.
"Most of your friends are the product of geographic convenience. Just because you grew up being friends with a neighbour or a fellow student, doesn't mean you owe them your undying loyalty when they start treating you like sh*t."
Riza Nugraha
7.
"Start trying to save money now. You will definitely thank yourself later on."
Eden, Janine and Jim
8.
"Learn how to cook. It’s way cheaper and usually faster than takeout."
Michael Pollak
9.
"People (employers, etc) will take advantage of your naivete. In many cases this will be illegal."
Mustafa Khayat
The best way to “smuggle” your advice is to help them find the solution to their problems all on their own. Throw in some tips on where to find the information they may need.
Then take a step back and watch as they explore. This is a great way to make them feel self-reliant.
That will prevent them from throwing away good advice just because it’s their parents’. Unfortunately, many parents simply can’t follow the rules of this “soft approach.”
"Failing is okay."
Fachdozent
11.
Learn the signs and signals of toxic relationships. All too often these can start as early as high school and before you know it you've wasted years of your life being someone's victim.
It also echoes the AITA dad who wanted family therapy but his parents refused.
12.
"Everyone is smart, just at different things. People can be book smart or people smart or machine smart etc.
But the difference between successful people and not so much is the application and dedication you give.
(My nephew is 9 and his dad is already calling him dumb, which is insane because that kid is sooooo quick. He understands things rapidly. But he doesn't like school right now. This is something I just told him)"
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
13.
It really doesn’t matter what others think of you. It only matters what you think of yourself. Live your life such that you can look at yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and be proud of what you’ve done.
Also, “likes” from social media don’t mean a thing. If you post something that gets zero likes or upvotes, you will still wake up tomorrow ready to go.
14.
"If you don't have a passion, learn new skills. You might find your passion or something you're good at."
Richard ElzeyReport
Finally, if your youngsters keep making the same blunders repeatedly, it’s time to have an open conversation. Tell them honestly that they’re disregarding the advice you’ve previously given them, and it’s time to make changes.
This might make them more willing to solve their problems instead of just discussing them and depending on others to solve them.
15.
You're responsible for your own education and have absolutely no one to blame if you don't take school seriously. And be nice to your teachers. They're trying to gift you a future.
16.
"Cashiers don't care if you buy condoms."
Adam
"When you get to driving you need to realize that the laws of physics apply to you. They aren't out to get you, they're just indifferent. Slow the [heck] down and don't horse around, you're driving a very heavy machine at speeds we did not evolve to deal with. Be safe."
Brian Burger
18.
You're allowed to question authority. If an authority does/says something you think is wrong, you're allowed to question that.
19.
Don't put off dealing with mental health issues. Developing unhealthy coping mechanisms for emotional issues will [screw] you up big time down the road. If you have issues, deal with it head on, right away. It can take time, but start the work now.
20.
Enjoy the small stuff like your back not hurting.
21.
When you make a mistake, own up to it. People are more willing to help you when you admit you did a dumb thing. This goes for school, work, and personal life. Forget to make a payment on a loan? Call and talk to the finance company. Mess something up on a school project? Tell your teacher and ask for a bit of leeway. Etc. People will be more likely to help you if you communicate.
Start your retirement fund as early as possible. Doesn’t matter if you can only afford $5 a week, it’s still $5 more than you would have had otherwise. It WILL add up and you’ll thank yourself later.
22.
The things your parents are trying to keep you from doing are more than likely the mistakes of their youth that they wish they could do differently.
23.
"While you shoudn't believe those who say these gonna be the best years of your life, try to make the most of it, to enjoy the ride. Don't be ashamed of your hobbies and passions ; those who make fun of that can go f**k themselves. Every feeling you have deserves to be expressed in any constructive manner. Don't fear rejection from those you like/love. Tell them and come what may."
woodleywonderworks
24.
After high school, life gets a whole lot better.
25.
Don’t compare your life to influencers, or anyone else for that matter. Even with the “#nofilter,” it’s normally a façade. Live your life for you, not for the likes.
26.
"Learn a second language. It's good for your brain, and it's a lot easier when you're young.
Get active and fit; make it a habit. This is one of the most important ways to stave off cognitive decline as you get older. Plus, it's great for managing mental health during the transition to adulthood."
Kara
27.
Avoid debt if possible.
28.
It's exactly as lame to not do something you want to do because it's too mainstream or popular as it is to do something only because it's cool and the cool kids are doing it
29.
"Advice is free, and if you respond to it with "I know" then you're probably not gonna figure your problem out."
Brendan Riley
30.
"The measure of whether someone has the potential to be a new friend of yours is NOT whether they like a bunch of things you like. It is entirely possible to become friends with people who like a ton of things you’ve never heard of, or even already decided you dislike. You are at a spot in life where a lot of your likes and dislikes are subject to change anyway.
Biggest thing: making a new friend often takes time. Lots of time. Much longer than movies and shows make it look like. Find things to do, groups to join, city league sports to play (pandemic permitting, or after) and keep learning about the people you see repeatedly. Far too many early twenties people who report having no friends made a premature judgment that one or more prospective friends were off the list, when it just needed a lot more time."
rhiannonmckinley
Some of these comments are blunt, but they land.
