Life isn't the easiest thing in the world, and I'm probably not the first to tell you that. We all have hard times. For some it's middle school, or high school, or just a really bad year overall. The thing is, these bad times will either make you or break you, and it is totally up to you on how you will let a situation effect your life. For myself, I had a really bad period my junior year of high school with just dumb girl drama, but at the time it felt like my small suburban high school in the middle of no-where New Jersey was the entire world. Although it was hard, well, it's over now, and I am a stronger, happier, and more confident person because of it. Sometimes it's our hardest times that teach us the biggest lessons, so here are just a few things I learned.

1. I used to wonder why my school never let us read anything current, or anything I believed at the time to be "worth reading," but there’s a reason schools teach Shakespeare instead of John Green. You make your own life, it’s not written in the stars, waiting to start until you find that one thing you'e missing. That's just not how life is.

2. People are a hell of a lot smarter than you think. Shut your mouth, stop thinking you know everything, and listen.

3. Getting close and being vulnerable are scary as hell, but you know what else it is? Worth it. Even if your heart is broken, and things might change, you won’t regret it when it’s happening. Live your life for yourself first.

4. Reason really is the doctor to love.

5. The moment you feel your happiness being lowered by another person, take a break from them, whether it be for a lunch period or four years.

6. Take a step back and look around. You have more friends than you think. Stop dwelling on the people who hurt you.

7. Growing up is going to happen and you will get into school and you will be stressed beyond belief here and there and it’s going to be tough. Just stay close to those around you. You’re all in it together.

8. If you’re still checking their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, whatever it is, you’re never going to get over them.

9. Everything seems worse in the morning. Running taps, walks, driving. Don’t fall for it, it’s deceiving. Try to start everyday with a smile.

10. Theres no need to be so intense all the time. People get tired of swimming in the deep end, sometimes they need a break in the shallow part of the pool.

11. Stop avoiding everything. Get out of bed. Get dressed. Go to school. Go to work. It sucks at first, but it’s part of the healing process. You’re not going to get better by laying in bed.

12. If the person makes you feel miserable, and you still go back to them, it’s probably an abusive relationship.

13. Headphones are great, but listen to music aloud every once in a while.

14. Boundaries are a must.

15. You can be a caring person, but you need to be happy with yourself before you try to make others happy.

16. Try and understand other’s intentions and situation before you get angry with them. Don't jump to conclusions just because you are angry.

17. Tough love is necessary sometimes.

18. You can’t fix people no matter how hard you try. Get this ingrained in your mind. You cannot fix anyone except for yourself.

19. Surround yourself with people who will love and support you. Not ones that will gossip about you when things go wrong.

20. Loneliness is lethal and makes you have a distorted view of things. Take time for yourself but also know your friends miss you, too.

21. No one hates you more than you hate yourself. They aren't talking about you. That tweet wasn't about you. They aren't texting about you. Stop being your own enemy.

22. Someone can only hurt your feelings if you allow them to.

23. Getting your self in order is five times as hard as it is to mess it all up.

24. Listen to your parent’s advice.

25. Be open to anything and everything. Life isn’t fun when you’re closed off.

26. Talking about your problems is great, but there comes a point when talking about it becomes dwelling on the past and it drains everyone around you. Know when you’ve hit this point.

27. A lot of people don’t like their problems showing. More people than you know are going through hard times.

28. Distract yourself.

29. Don’t be so easily swayed. A lot of claims out there are not true. You’ll know this best when people make false claims about you.

30. Some seasons of your life are harder than others. and like everything else in the world, it will pass.