18 Things I've Learned in 18 Years | The Odyssey Online
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Student Life

18 Things I've Learned in 18 Years

And this is still only the beginning.

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18 Things I've Learned in 18 Years
Sam Pearson
  1. A year goes by very quickly. The older I get, the more I realize that time is truly precious. As cliché as this sounds, it is so imperative to live life to the fullest. Don’t waste time; go try something new.
  2. People will promise not to leave you. They will. This will make you sad. That’s okay. This can happen multiple times. That’s also okay. Get back up on your saddle, the world is full of people who need your love.
  3. Love is not defined by time. You do not have to know somebody for months or years in order to love them.
  4. Just because you love someone for months or years doesn’t mean that you can’t fall out of love. Time both destroys and heals.
  5. It’s essential to tell people how you feel. It will both create and destroy relationships. Both of these things are okay.
  6. Your friends will not always be there for you. But, your siblings will almost always be there for you. You should not take advantage of that.
  7. It’s important to remember that you need God just as desperately on your best day as you do on your worst. When life is hard to handle, pray. When life is smooth sailing, pray. Never lose sight of Who got you to where you are.
  8. You do not need any life advice from somebody who is in high school. They are just as clueless as you are.
  9. Becoming familiar with something bad helps you appreciate something good. Side note: Don’t let yourself become too familiar with something bad.
  10. If something is unfair, do not tolerate it. Write a lengthy letter of complaint and have your best friend proofread it. Send it.
  11. God has a better plan. I am eternally grateful that things did not work out the way that I once wanted them to. “Jesus replied, ‘You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.’”
  12. You can not be happy with other people until you are happy with yourself. True satisfaction comes from within. Other people can’t make your happiness.
  13. “Wear sunscreen.” Because sun poisoning is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me thus far, and it was completely preventable.
  14. Having a few meaningful relationships is truly better than having a lot of artificial relationships. Surrounding yourself with a few people who truly build you up and want to watch you succeed in the long run up is much more rewarding than surrounding yourself with a multitude of people who are shallow and temporary.
  15. Your parents are usually right.Usually. Okay… Most of the time.
  16. You cannot change a person. You can be encouraging and inspiring, but you cannot expect to change someone. That’s not your job.
  17. Criticism should be accepted with an open mind and a closed mouth. If you do not agree with somebody’s advice, don’t take it. But it’s essential that you remain semipermeable at all times.
  18. The world is so much bigger than one can even imagine at 18 years old. Take every chance you can to travel and explore. Make life an adventure, and don’t let opportunities slip away from you.
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