What I Wish I Knew At Age 18

Here's everything everyone wish they knew at the age of 18. If it's good advice, hit the upvote button. The number next to it indicates the age the author wrote it at. Feel like there's something missing? Add a new message!

Hey 18 year old, You might want to go to grad school at a later time. Try to achieve a decent GPA in college.

Hey 18 year old, study something in which you know there will be job if you know you will need to find one!

Hey 18 year old, If in your first year as an adult you're still surrounded by cliques that make you feel like you're somehow less valuable than they are, these are incredibly petty people you can walk away from. You can start over now. Please meet better people.

Hey 18 year old, Do whatever makes you happy, and do it lots. Don't waste time with fake people, instead surround yourself with friends that improve you. Spend time on/find your passion in life and always keep working at it. Find multiple sources of income.

Hey 18 year old, Re-evaluate all your beliefs. Don't let indoctrination turn you into someone or something you don't want to be. You only get one life. Yes, this includes religion, politics, morals, values, etc.

Hey 18 year old, It's ok to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life. It's ok to not go to college. Do whatever you do for YOU, not for anyone else.

Hey 18 year old, don't let anyone convince you that you can't make a living as a writer. Sure, you may not be writing the fiction you want to write all the time, but you can actually make a good living with words.

Hey 18 year old, dream big, act now, never give up, you're amazing!

Hey 18 year old, Just because people said you were smart doesnt mean you should be afraid of picking a degree/trade that you might regret. By not making choice is a choice in itself, and the worst choice.

Hey 18 year old, I want a gf

Hey 18 year old, You don't have to go to college. It's okay to just get a normal job painting houses or something, and not have to think about it when you get home or worry about student loans. You can always change your mind and go later--the school will be there.

Hey 18 year old, If you live in the US or someplace with expensive colleges, think before you sign up for the student debt. College might not be as important as they make it look like, especially for tech. You can get into Google with bootcamps too.

Hey 18 year old, college isn't the only answer. Trade school and alternative education are perfectly acceptable alternatives to going to a traditional colleges. Not everyone is a scholar, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Hey 18 year old, don’t force friendships with people who only want you when you’re useful to them

Hey 18 year old, The reason people twice your age seem like they know what they're doing isn't having that much more education--it's that they've spent more time understanding themselves.

Hey 18 year old, It's alright. Don't be too hard on yourself. Eliminate bad habits from your life such as excessive porn watching, smoking and drugs. And start working on yourself. Know your self-worth and have some self-respect.

Hey 18 year old, Study abroad, learn about other cultures and languages. When you come home very few people will understand your experience. The people who understand are people you should keep in contact with for life, they will go places. Connections are everything

Hey 18 year old, start saving money, brushing your teeth twice a day, and exercising regularly

Hey 18 year old, Best time start weight lifting dont miss that

Hey 18 year old, you don't have to know who you are or what you want to be. You just need to have the willingness to take risks and see where it leads. Life is about experiences, not accomplishments.

Hey 18 year old, Don't judge people, it doesn't benefit anyone. Not them, not you, or anyone else

Hey 18 year old, Don't take a payday loan. It's not worth it and will haunt you for a long time.

Hey 18 year old, Stop caring about what other people think!

Hey 18 year old, your youth has not ended at 17. there are paths open to you. getting a job is not scary and university time is one of the best years of my life

Hey 18 year old, Use your credit card responsibly or you could end up spending the majority of your 20's trying to get out of debt and fix your credit score.

Hey 18 year old, Don't try to rush things. Enjoy life. Start learning foreign languages.

Hey 18 year old, you've likely left school in your hometown by now, and might be heading to university, or to another country, or beyond. Perhaps you already did all of that, hard for me to say. Stay in touch with the friends you came up with.

Hey 18 year old, Don’t blow all your money on booze and drugs. The fun is fleeting and more often than not, it causes more problems than it solves. Be responsible and don’t over indulge. Use the extra money to fund a more fruitful venture.

Hey 18 year old, Just because she's pregnant doesn't mean you have to get married if the relationship is unhealthy or toxic. You can still be a good parent without a marriage.

Hey 18 year old, Don't think you know yourself, you're not emotionally strong or developed.