19 Things I Learned at 19
1. Growing Up Is Scary. Turning 18 did not make me an adult, but once I entered college and gained more and more responsibilities, I've come to the conclusion that my teenage years were OVER. Facing the reality of growing up and maturing is extremely scary, but with a good support system, you can definitely get through it SUCCESSFULLY!
2. Save Your Money! The first thing I learned about this roller-coaster of a life is that money definitely does not grow on trees. I love the finer things in life, but ballin' on a budget sometimes hinders that. No worries, though! There are so many different ways you can save money while going to school and maintaining a fun lifestyle. For instance, take advantage of student discounts at retailers. You never know until you ask!
3. Change Is Good. Being a former military brat, I've learned a couple things about change. I've been enrolled in a variety of schools and I've met tons of people, but going through all those moves has shaped me into a person who can adapt to different environments easily. I moved to the U.S. about 4 years ago from Germany and I've never been more thankful for the changes I've had to adapt to and now, moving on to college has been my greatest change yet. My first year of college was something that I'll never forget and hopefully, yours will be too!
4. Be Yourself. One of the biggest things I've learned about myself this past year is that being yourself is so important. High school, for me, was a daily reminder of all the things I wish I could've had or become because of a small thing we all know as peer pressure. Being insecure is normal and a part of growing up is understanding your flaws. But, accepting and owning those insecurities makes us even more confident in ourselves. I'm mixed with African American and German, so my hair is naturally curly. I've straightened it a lot in the past, but my curls make me who I am. I love them, so I take care of them and certainly embrace them!
5. Learn From Mistakes. It's okay to be wrong. It's okay to fail at something. That's life. What's important is that you learn from it. Don't make the same mistake twice, otherwise it becomes a choice. I take every decision very seriously and that includes friendships, finances, and/or educational choices. I've learned a couple lessons from making decisions and they brought me to where I am today and I wouldn't have it any other way.
6. Never Settle. Now the term "settle" can have many definitions. Some think of settling as marrying someone and growing a family and having a stable job & income. I prefer to define it has "taking the easy way out." As a college student, and now that my first year is officially over, settling in college is basically setting your self up to fail. Challenge yourself each and every day and you'll see the results. I pushed myself incredibly hard this past year and look where that got me - a 3.95 GPA and Dean's List TWICE. My dad always pushed my brother and I to be amazing at whatever we decide to do, so I'm taking that challenge!
7. Take Time to Travel When You're Young. I'm incredibly thankful to have been a military brat because without the excessive amounts of moving to different schools, I wouldn't have been able to experience all the richness of culture and traveling. I was born in Germany. I usually don't tell people that right off the bat because I like to get to know people and trust them before I tell them my whole life story, but this is my personal blog, so I guess I'll let you in on my life a little. I've traveled a lot in my 19 years and honestly, it's given me perspective for different ways of life. Being from Germany and then moving to America was definitely a culture shock for me, but I've adapted and I'm thriving. When people ask me "what's Germany like?, is it very different?," my answer is always BEAUTIFUL & YES! Being young means that money can sometimes be an issue, but don't let money get in the way. I live close to Cincinnati which is a couple hours away from major cities like Nashville or Chicago. Take advantage of your youth. Like they always say, YOLO!
8. Have a Relationship with Credit. This is very important. Credit is something that I recently just began only because 19 is the perfect age to gain responsibility with finances and create a successful relationship with credit. Be responsible with your credit card. This does not mean spend your whole limit on a shopping spree and blow it in a matter of hours. This is a time to be mature and be an ADULT. Nowadays, credit means everything. When you get older and want to get out of your parents' house or buy that fancy new car, you're going to need GOOD credit! It takes awhile to earn good credit, but that's why you should start young.
9. Choosing a Major. As I ended my high school career and began college, I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do with my life. Let's be honest, this whole choosing a career thing is quite frightening, right? Of course it is! College is about finding yourself as well as a career. But the first year is meant for exciting new experiences. Don't get too wrapped up in the idea of choosing a major right away. It takes time to find something that you believe that you're good at. For me, it took three different majors to get me to my major today: Psychology!
10. Take Care of Yourself. Eating two pints of ice cream won't make you happy. Neither will sprinting 10 miles. I'm sure you all heard of the famous "Freshman 15." Myth or not, gaining weight is a part of growing up. Letting it get out of control is not. Maintaining healthy eating habits at this age will definitely help you down the road as well as exercising regularly. I've read so many different articles on how to stay healthy in college, but I think the moral that surrounds this is that exercising and eating healthy is the way to go! A healthy body makes a healthy mind!
11. Value Time and Value Relations. I think I can say at this point in my life that I've learned what true friends really are. They will stick their necks out for you (not literally) and keep you focused. They won't abandon you when they end up in a relationship and they make time for you. They will keep it real and tell you how it is no matter what. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with people who have the same mindset as I do and take advantage of opportunities when they find one. Surround yourself with people who make you happy and don't waste your time on people who only disappoint.
12. Family Is So Important! When I say important, I mean extremely important! We're all growing up and slowly drifting away from our families, but the one thing you should always keep in mind is that family is always there for you. Without my family, I wouldn't be who I am today. They've taught me lessons and instilled morals in me that I'll carry with me forever.
13. Be Nice. This should always go without saying, but being kind and respectful to people can really go a long way.
14. The Boy Who Broke Your Heart in High School, Will Remain The Boy Who Broke Your Heart in High School. Don't let a heartbreak run your life. It's time to move on and get over it because your life, your future is ahead of you. Don't be afraid to fall in love, but don't get hungover on the guy that broke your heart.
15. Don't Let Materialistic Things Run Your Life. Having nice things is great, but don't make them your priority especially when there are more important things. Remember, at the end of the day, they are just possessions.
16. Thank The People Who Matter to You. Whoever it may be, your parents, your professors, or your friends. Thank them for being in your life because one day they may not be. Every day is a gift and a simple "thank you" will not be forgotten!
17. Work Hard. I like to put this at the end because we sometimes forget how important it is to work hard for what we want to achieve in life. College is hard. It takes lots of studying, COFFEE, motivation, and confidence. But it doesn't take much effort to start. Set short-term goals for yourself, USE an agenda to stay organized, and manage your time efficiently. It all boils down to the work you put in to get a result that you're proud of. So push yourself to do your very best work!
18. Trust The Process of Letting Go. In college and in life, you'll meet people that will either become a blessing or a lesson. Learn from the people who were discouraging or as I like to call them "fake friends." In the span of 19 years, I've learned about letting go of negativity and building the trust within myself. It's okay to burn bridges sometimes.
19. Live Life With No Regrets. I cannot stress this enough! There is nothing better than feeling absolutely content and happy with your life. People come and go, but be sure to keep an eye out for those real friends and don't be took quick to jump into a long-term relationship. Take your time! Live life to the fullest and of course, with NO regrets!
xo, Viv
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