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Original poster

To be curious what you would tell your 16 yr old self now?

287 replies

WannabeNigella · 18/11/2010 22:26

Just wondered really, if you could just pass on one little nugget of wisdom to yourself at 16, what would it be?

Inspired by a trending topic on Twitter just in case any of you saw it.

OP posts:
dejavuaswell · 19/08/2011 10:34

Bump - it's exam time and just when such chats might be most useful.

Whatmeworry · 19/08/2011 10:40

I was looking at my advice to myself and it looks horribly like my advice would be to my DD - Oops.

(Old Fart Moment :( )

Other thing is that NOTHING is as Awful, Awesome, or Critically Important as it looks at 16.

Signet2012 · 19/08/2011 10:46

Dont go to Uni because "its what you do" go because you want to.

Dont pass off the good uni to go to a bot so good uni so u can stay at home because of your boyfriend. You may love him to bits but this is the only time of your life you can have that much fun and you can never get 16-21 back. Will be the best time of your life! Your going to see the light and finish the dick when your 23 and spend til your 30 wishing you had done it at 16!

Go on a girly holiday - drink too much dance too much and have a good time, again once your officially grown up its harder to do this. Dont let any that dick stop you from having fun, you WILL Regret it.

Make the effort to see your grandparents because by time you do, and realise how excellent they are they will start to die and you are going to feel really shit about it.

You say your fat..... you will look back in 12 years time and go "i thought i was fat then!?>! if i looked like that now ID walk round naked!!!!"

Have fun and dont not take experiences because you darent. Again your going to regret it

Live your life and enjoy what you can, because your going to get a mortgage at 21 and you will never have money again :)

worldgonecrazy · 19/08/2011 11:03

What a great post. I would tell myself to forget the nastiness and name calling of my school 'friends' who constantly told me how ugly I was, because of their jealousy, not my ugliness. At the risk of incurring the wrath of feminists everywhere, I would tell myself to practice dancing and go and get a job as a pole dancer - if only there was some way to magically combine the body of an 18 year old with the self-confidence of a 40 something!

PicaK · 19/08/2011 11:58

I'd tell myself I was beautiful and NOT fat.

Do not shag that idiot with bells on his boots. He will cost you your place at Cambridge.

Forget teaching - do some work experience in the real world.

Do not perm your hair.

Cherish your friends more - they are worth far more than any bloke. Stay away from the handsome tossers and chat more to the spotty, less cool blokes.

Your English a-level teacher is overmarking your coursework. You are not doing ok - you should demand to move to a different class.

Be more spontaneous.
And less afraid of upsetting your parents.

And remember, stay away from the bells.

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/08/2011 12:05

Work much harder at school. no boys or drinking, friends are not much more important than school and yourself. Wait to have babies with someone you love.

And that cunty bitch of a friend that took your boyfriend what will happen?? they will break up muwahahahahahahahaha!!!!

thesunshinesbrightly · 19/08/2011 12:07

Oh and do not wish to be older to get into clubs without having to lie...cause once you reach that age t'is all down hill and before ya know it you will be old.

Smellslikecatpee · 19/08/2011 12:34

Remember when you went to the Doctor at 15 because you had a year or regular periods at age 13 and been wildly erratic since? Yes he was right it can take a while to settle down but yes he also didn?t need to be so patronising.
Nor did the one at 19, or 22. Don?t just accept it, don?t add it on as a while I?m here. You?re system is fucked up and get it sorted now!!!
Otherwise you?re going to spend most of your late 30 legs akimbo while various doctors and med students painfully prod and poke areas that really aren?t designed to prodded and poked

Well not by metal implements

Well as it?s Friday, not unless that?s what your thing is (but it isn?t for me)(trying not to excluded offend anyone having had eyes opened by toothbrush thread)

olderyetwider · 19/08/2011 12:36

Horses are better than boys. Keep riding!

redexpat · 19/08/2011 12:43

Friends do not you feel like shit.
Crying yourself to sleep every night is not normal.
Neither is taking nearly 2 hours to get to sleep.
Nice boys will like you. You just haven't met any nice ones yet.

HairyGrotter · 19/08/2011 12:45

Don't get caught, and for God's sake, be worse.

Balsam · 19/08/2011 12:49

If you want kids one day, don't bother investing in a career because you'll either have to give it all up or suffer the guilt and anguish of full-time nursery.

DrGruntFotter · 19/08/2011 12:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Meow75 · 19/08/2011 12:59

Just found this thread. It's ace!!!

  1. In about a year's time, you will lose weight, quite effortlessly and be thrilled about. Be patient.
  1. Be careful at the rugby match in March '93. You will dislocate your knee (as a spectator), have to stop A level PE practical classes and that weight starts coming back. Being happy with your weight for about 6 months was not enough.
  1. That first boy you snog is a shit. You are absolutely right not to bow to his pressure to have sex with him, but you also shouldn't feel bad for him either. And when he dumps you, don't keep trying to get back with him because you feel mean. He was a cock!!!
  1. When you start dating "The One" in Upper VI, who you've known since Y7, he won't dump you if you continue to go to your classes, so stop skipping classes, do your homework and get the A level results you really deserve. Getting a uni place through Clearing was crap and really dented your confidence, because you knew it shouldn't have been necessary.
  1. Even though she struggles to say it to you, tell your mum how much you love her. She loves you A LOT, and in 7 years time, 2 weeks after you marry "The One", she'll be gone. Do listen to Dad when he tells you that he thinks you should come home from honeymoon, and spend some time with her before it's too late.
  1. Be much more sensible with your money. I still haven't managed to do it, but I wish I had then. Ask Dad, he'll have some good tips.
  1. Be nicer to your brother's girlfriend, who became your SIL. He's a controlling wanker who you now realise showed all the traits of being EmoA, PhysA and SexA even when you were kids. He is and always was a bully, and you should have tried harder to steer her away from him. She was your best mate before she was his girlfriend, after all.

THAT IS ALL!!!!

ThoseArentSpiritFingers · 19/08/2011 16:28

Stop taking topless pictures and sending them to people you chat to online. You do not know these people, the pictures probably constitute as child porn 15/16 years old and its a bit worrying about whether these pictures are still around...

Asmodeus · 19/08/2011 18:36

Black Vodka + Sambuka = nuclear badness, Stay away, child!

Sincerely,
Self

FreudianSlipper · 19/08/2011 18:39

trust your instincts

and when you you are wanting to get out of a relationship do it there and then not wait until the next incident

not sure i would say go to university as i am now and really enjoying it if i had of gone my life wold be very different and i am now happier than i have ever been

TheGhostNotMe · 19/08/2011 18:57

You are not a grown up. In fact you will still not feel like a grown up at 29.

Do not get involved with that man. Or that one. Or that one. In fact, ignore men, go travelling, work hard and have a fricken life.

Oh, and dont rent!! Buy a sodding house before the prices go through the bloody roof!!

TimeForMeIsFree · 19/08/2011 19:02

Stop trying to please your mother, stop trying to buy her love and affection, it will never happen. Find the confidence to leave home and get a little flat, do not marry the first man who comes along and shows you the tiniest bit of affection. Love yourself and be happy!

Gosh, that feels good.

cjbartlett · 19/08/2011 19:06

Marry someone you really really fancy
So you don't wake up with you're both nearing forty thinking 'I can't stand you' Grin

naughtaless · 19/08/2011 19:23

Get yourself some confidence, do night classes, don't settle for less than what your worth. Your bloody gorgeous and thin, make the most of it Blush

iklboo · 19/08/2011 19:27

DO NOT TAKE HIM BACK. EVER. DO YOU HEAR ME?

queenmaeve · 19/08/2011 20:02

Don't worry about not being one of the cool girls or that your mum wont let you out to discos or dress up in short skirts. It all pays of. Those girls who tease you about not going out, the ones who have a different boy every week, well none of them amount to very much.
You are right in the way you have so much respect for yourself. In the next few years boys will try it on but you will always keep yourself decent. You are going to have a ball at uni and do some amazing traveling. Enjoy it all. I wouldnt ask you to do anything differently!

dementedma · 19/08/2011 20:09

don't get married. ever. your freedom is the most important thing you have, do not give it to a man so that he can own you.

Value your figure and looks because it is only going to get worse.

learn a language and travel. travel anywhere you can.

start putting money in a rainy day fund that no-one else knows about.

HorseyGirl1 · 19/08/2011 20:20

You will have love one day with a man who values you and loves you as you are and you won't have to change a single thing about yourself. and then I'd give myself a hug and say it will be OK and yes you will survive doing your GCSEs! In fact you will do A Levels and go to Uni also x

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