What Advice Would You Give Yourself If You Could Return To When You Were 18?

Adulthood will show you that no one has it all figured out. However, you may secure a bright future with time and knowledge.

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I was reflecting on all the challenges I’ve faced since graduating high school. You see, my class reunion was last week. It was a huge deal. I graduated from high school in 1966. It was 58 years ago!

There has been a lot of change in the past fifty-eight years. I’ve learned a lot about myself and life in general, and I believe I have gained knowledge. But what if I could take all of that knowledge and go back to 1966? What would I tell myself?

Like most 18-year-olds, I assumed I understood everything, or at least enough to live the way I wanted. I couldn’t wait to live free of my parents’ interference.

I was now legally an adult, and I was excited to start reaping the rewards of adulthood. If only I knew what I know now!

The bad news was that adulthood was not as delightful as anticipated. For one thing, I was too terrified to leave the nest on my own, so I married a man who wasn’t the appropriate companion for me at the age of twenty. Fast forward to thirty-seven, and divorce became a reality.

Since then, I’ve figured out who I am, who I am not, and who I will never be. However, I believe I could have avoided many hardships and heartbreak if I had known more about what I needed to be successful in life.

So here are a few questions I’d like to have answered when I was eighteen.

1. What are your goals? It is vital to determine your present goals. Do this by observing adults that you admire and want to be like. Now, ask them how they got to where they are. Model your life after them. Determine whether you wish to attend college. If you’re starting college, consider which classes to take.

Take various courses, including computer science, astronomy, psychology, law, and art history. Look for what intrigues you and work towards it.

2. Are you acquiring valuable life skills? Develop a strong drive to learn about whatever intrigues you. It might be history, economics…