For many, your teenage years are the best years of your life, but for some, they are the worst. Whether or not these years were good or bad there is a lot to take away from this part of your life. Being a teen allows you to take on adult responsibilities, but still act like a child. It's a time period of innocence, that we shouldn't take for granted. As we continue on and leave our teens, there are a few valuable lessons we can take away during these carefree years.

1. Stop saying sorry

Not everyone or everything deserves an apology. Stop saying sorry for the little mistakes. You are allowed to mess up and not say sorry for certain actions.

2. Losing a loved one is hard

Growing up, we realize that not everyone will be there forever. We take our time with people for granted. We believe that forever has no time limit. Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences in life. It’s a period of time where only time will lessen the pain.

3. Heartbreak will make you stronger

Whether you dated for a few months or a few years, breakups are the worst. Take the time apart to focus on yourself and be independent. A few months later, you’ll look back on that breakup and thank your ex for all the memories and lessons learned. There will always be that one guy that you have to thank for letting you go.

4. It's OK to make mistakes

You are growing up, obviously you are going to make mistakes. It’s what you take away from the mistakes that matters. Big or small mistakes, there is always a lesson learned from actions. So own up to your mistakes and be proud that you are making these mistakes now and learning from them as a teen, rather than later on in life.

5. Your mom/dad can be your best friend too

When you first enter high school, you grow apart from your parents. You are at that age where you want to do everything a 21-year-old could do, but your parents tell you otherwise. You feel like they're ruining your life, but all they want is the best for you. Friends will come and go out of your life, but your parents are there to stay.

6. Friends will come and go

Your best friend when you were two might not be your best friend in middle school. Accept it. People get older and grow apart… it’s normal and part of life. So cherish the memories you are making right now, so in the future, you can look back at all of the great or even bad friendships you had in the past. The people you meet teach you something about yourself, so thank them.

7. You will never have as much free time as you do now. Take advantage of it.

If only there was more than 24 hours in a day because then I would be able to get everything I need to get done. Being a teenager makes the 24 hours you have in a day actually seem like too much time. Take advantage of all the free time you have now, because once you are in college and after you graduate, time is of the essence.

8. Stop wishing you were older

I was 16 and wanted to act like I was 22. Everyone believes they are more mature than what they already are. When you’re 13, you wish you could drive, when you’re 16, you wish you were 18, but as you get older, you begin to wish you were younger. Stop wishing away the best years of your lives. Growing up isn’t as fabulous as it’s made out to be.

9. Not everyone will like you

There will always be people that will not like you. Whether they have a good reason or not, it’s OK. There’s no need for fake friends in your life. Take the rumors people might spread and use it to make yourself stronger. Don’t take it to heart because all they want is to see you fail. You have great friends already who aren’t spreading rumors about you. Focus on what your friends have to say about you rather than the fake ones.

10. Dating is OK

As millennials, we have put into our heads that dating is overrated. We are a generation of one-night stands, hookups and “talking,” Growing up in a generation with a mindset like this kind of sucks. When you’re looking for something, the other person tells you, “It’s not you, it’s me,” the classic line to every let down. I’d say it’s a cliché in our generation. My point is stop being scared of what could happen. Open yourself up that boy or girl because who knows, you could have something amazing there. It doesn’t hurt to try, so we should start trying again.